Women with primary dysmenorrhoea may find comfort in a new transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation device.In a study presented at ESHRE 2026, a novel, wearable transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) device alleviates menstrual pain and complications of primary dysmenorrhoea.
After approximately 3 weeks of device use, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain score dropped significantly in the experimental vs the sham group (p<0.001), as did the duration of dysmenorrhoea (p=0.02). [ESHRE 2026, abstract L26/P-342]
With regard to menstrual-related symptoms, taVNS effectively reduced the severity and duration of fatigue (p<0.001 and p=0.03, respectively) and low back pain (p=0.04 and p=0.02). There were also notable reductions in the duration of digestive symptoms (p=0.01) and headache (p=0.04).
After completing the intervention, there was a significant reduction in the overall Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score (p<0.001), particularly in issues influencing sleep (p=0.01), in the taVNS vs the sham group. Self-reported sleep quality was also better in the former vs the latter (p<0.001).
Overall, there were significant improvements in the Clinical Global Impression scale (p<0.001) and efficacy index (p<0.001) in the active vs the control group.
A reliable, safe strategy
“Primary dysmenorrhoea is a recurrent pelvic pain occurring with menses in the absence of identifiable pelvic pathology, accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms,” noted presenting author Dr Jianan Xia from the Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, SAR, and colleagues.
Given the varying response rates, contraindications, and side effects associated with the current management alternatives for primary dysmenorrhoea, there remains an unmet need for new and non-pharmacologic interventions for this condition, they noted.
A noninvasive technique that has shown promise in pain management, taVNS engages endogenous descending analgesic and vagal anti-inflammatory pathways via central neuromodulation and peripheral biological effects. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding its use in primary dysmenorrhoea.
Twenty-six women were randomized 1:1 to either the active taVNS group (mean age 23.62 years) or the sham group (mean age 26.22 years). The participants were instructed to wear the device for 30 min twice daily over 28 days. In the active group, the frequency used was 25 Hz, with 250 µs pulse width, biphasic square pulses, and 4 sec on/4 sec off cycles.
Compared with the sham group, the taVNS group had a numerically shorter menstrual cycle (30.62 vs 35 days) and higher pre-intervention total Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (25.08 vs 18.56) and PSQI scores (11.46 vs 8.67). Otherwise, the active and sham groups had similar menstrual-related characteristics, such as age at menarche (12.54 and 12.78 years), period duration (5.87 and 5.56 days), severity of illness (4.92 and 5.11), and pre-intervention NRS score (6.46 and 7.11).
Menstrual-related symptoms were evaluated at enrolment and menses day 3, while sleep quality and overall improvement were assessed at the end of the intervention.
“Our data reveal that taVNS significantly reduced the severity and duration of dysmenorrhoea and menstrual-related discomforts, while noticeably improving sleep quality with excellent safety,” noted Xia and colleagues. However, the small sample size may have limited the findings.
Nonetheless, the results underscore the potential of taVNS as a novel, reliable, and safe strategy for alleviating primary dysmenorrhoea and improving menstrual-related quality of life, they said.
The investigators called for further studies to validate the efficacy and safety of the device. “Moreover, neuroimmune alterations after taVNS intervention should be explored for mechanistic elucidation.”