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International Journal of Women's Health logoLink to International Journal of Women's Health
. 2020 Jan 8;12:1–10. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S220523

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Primary Dysmenorrhea: An Overview

Michal Elboim-Gabyzon 1,✉, Leonid Kalichman 2
PMCID: PMC6955615  PMID: 32021488

Abstract

Primary dysmenorrhea is a chronic health condition that affects primarily young women. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been suggested as an effective pain reduction modality in primary dysmenorrhea. TENS is a noninvasive, inexpensive, portable method with minimal risks and a few contraindications. When necessary, it can be self-administered on a daily basis during everyday activities. Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of TENS in reducing pain, decreasing the use of analgesics, and improving the quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea patients. These studies have some limitations in methodological quality and therapeutic validation. However, the overall positive effects of TENS in primary dysmenorrhea encountered in all prior studies indicated its potential value. This review presents the clinical recommendations for TENS parameters for treating primary dysmenorrhea symptoms based on previously published studies.

Keywords: primary dysmenorrhea, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, TENS, pain, life quality, treatment

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is the most common gynecological symptom reported by women of reproductive age.1 It is defined as the recurrent, cramping pain, which occurs during menses, and lacks any identifiable reproductive system pathology.1,2 While cramping pain may be the only complaint, one or more of the following symptoms may accompany the pain: nausea, breast tenderness, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, dizziness, and more rarely, syncope and fever.1 PD is usually treated by pharmacological agents that are often accompanied by adverse side effects.3,4 Accordingly, integrating alternative nonpharmacological, noninvasive analgesia is preferred.

One of the noninvasive treatment methods is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) that delivers electrical currents through the skin. High-frequency (HF) TENS was demonstrated to be effective in reducing menstrual pain in a 2002 Cochrane review of seven previously published studies by Proctor et al4 This review was updated in 2009 without the addition of new studies.4 Since the 2009 update,4 six new trials had been published that further support HF TENS as an effective treatment modality for PD.5–10 Additionally, two recent reviews1,11 and a systematic review on the management of PD12 advocated TENS as a safe and effective method for pain reduction. However, the review of the literature indicates that information on application parameters and clinical considerations regarding the use of TENS in PD is still lacking. In the present study, we attempted to provide the best available data on the pathophysiology and mechanism of action of TENS in dysmenorrhea, the best clinical recommendations for the TENS parameters, and interactions with pharmacological agents.

The Pathophysiology and Mechanism of Action of TENS in PD

The pathophysiology of PD should be considered when dealing with some of the variables of TENS, such as the optimal timing and duration of treatment. Endocrine factors have been suggested because PD occurs only during ovulatory cycles. Recent studies have indicated excessive secretion of prostaglandins and decreased ovarian steroid hormone levels in the endometrium as causes of PD.2,13 These changes result in hypercontractility of the uterus that lasts for hours with possible elevated intrauterine pressure1 and decreased blood flow, and leads to uterine hypoxia and ischemia, which are believed to cause the underlying etiologies for the pain and cramps.11

Vasodilation, increased blood flow, and menstrual fluid prostaglandins may be altered by TENS, and may indirectly induce analgesic effects. These effects are probably mediated by the inhibition of nociceptive fiber-evoked responses in the dorsal horn. Based on the gate control theory of pain, this inhibition is caused by stimulation of large diameter afferents which are stimulated by TENS.15 Sensory stimulation of the skin may also cause local vasodilation in the same dermatome via axonal reflexes.16 The effects of TENS are also modulated by anatomic pathways,17 opioid release,24 decreased release of prostaglandins, and possibly eicosanoids that are released from the endometrium during menstruation25 following antidromic blockage of nerve fibers with large diameters.26

Design of the Reviewed Studies

Previous studies adopted a variety of approaches, including the comparison of HF TENS versus placebo,6,7,10,17–19 low-frequency (LF) TENS versus placebo,16,17,19,20 HF versus LF TENS,17,19 and TENS versus medication.3,5,18,19

One study lacked a placebo group and each participant was used as her own control.8 Another study compared HF TENS and interferential current.9 The studies used parallel6,7,9,16,17,20 or crossover designs.3,8,10,18,19

Many previous trials were characterized by the lack of consistency with respect to the study design and homogeneity of the participants. The women had different demographic and physical characteristics (including their ages, heights, and weights), menstrual history, severity of the condition, and in particular, there were differences in pain levels, general physical activity levels, function, and quality of life. Furthermore, the trials exhibited increased degrees-of-variation in the use of TENS in terms of dose (current intensity and frequency, duration, and frequency of delivery), the location of the electrodes, blinding, and the control group. Moreover, one of the trials reported on the efficiency of TENS combined with ibuprofen on pain reduction, but important details on the dose were not disclosed.5

Guidelines for the Application of Sensory-Level TENS for PD

TENS requires setting many parameters related to current and electrode characteristics. Table 1 and Figure 1 summarize the clinical recommendations, and provide an overview of the parameters and considerations based on previous studies. Some critical points will be discussed hereinafter.

Table 1.

Characteristics of Pulse and Current Parameters, Electrode Application, and Treatment Position

Characteristic Recommendation Important Considerations
Pulse and current parameters
Pulse waveform Biphasic waveform Sensory level transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is applied by biphasic or monophasic waveforms or bursts in different shapes.27
Pulse frequency (Hz) 50 to 120 Hz (100 Hz is most common) High-frequency (HF) sensory-level TENS stimulation frequencies are broadly classified as HF (>50 Hz), low frequency (LF) (1 Hz to 4 Hz), or burst (bursts of HF stimulation applied at a much lower frequency).23
HF TENS - patient experiences an intense, comfortable, nonpainful paresthesia.
LF TENS - experienced as an intense, painful pulsating sensation often accompanied by muscle twitching.
Most patients typically find higher frequencies more comfortable.23
Phase duration (µs) 100 µsec24,26 Most frequent setting in previous studies on patients affected by primary dysmenorrhea (PD) was 100 µsec.3,6–10,17–20,24,26
Current amplitudes The highest tolerable intensity with continuous adjustment of the current amplitude so that an intense sensation is felt throughout the entire treatment process.
Maintaining the same level of sensation by continually increasing the current amplitude.		 Dose-response effect: higher intensities (strong, nonpainful, at sensory threshold) produce greater and longer-lasting decreases in pain and nociceptive response, whereas TENS delivered at or below the sensory threshold (or placebo) was ineffective.24,25
LF TENS applied typically at higher intensities.22
Continuous increase throughout TENS produced greater analgesia compared to the case at which the intensity was maintained at the initial level.26
Higher currents activate deeper tissue afferents allowing greater analgesia, in addition to the activation of more sensory afferents.34
TENS treatment dosage: Duration, number of treatments and frequency Using the device whenever severe pain is felt A consistent clinical dosage of TENS is lacking.26
Habituation/repeated use Use a fixed high frequency, increase the current intensity continually up to the instance at which anintense, maximum tolerated sensation is felt. Rational: decrease in habituation effect.
Repeated application of the same dose (frequency, intensity, duration) of TENS daily over a period of five days results in analgesic tolerance in healthy women.16
Resolve the conflict between the cumulative effects and tolerance may be in the mode of application. It is suggested that for chronic pain, a cumulative effect is achieved if the intensity is increased during treatment until the patient describes the sensation as “intense, but comfortable.”
Patients likely become more comfortable with TENS over time, and are able to tolerate higher intensities.39 Animal studies show that increasing the intensity by 10% on a daily basis, delays the onset of analgesic tolerance.
Electrode application and treatment position
Skin preparation Ensure intact skin area.
Cleanse skin prior to application.		 Skin breakdown will result in extreme discomfort.27
Cleansing reduces skin impedance.27
Type of electrodes Self-adhesive.
Dual-channel devices using four large-sized electrodes corresponding to the painful area(s).		 Self-adhesive electrodes are easy to apply and less cumbersome but are costlier as they are disposable.27
Other types require conductive material at the electrode–skin interphase (eg, gel, water-saturated material) and additional use of Velcro belts, or tight-fitting clothing to hold the electrode in place. Advantages include the facts that they are not disposable and can be used in several patients.
Few studies investigated the effects of different types of electrodes on the analgesic effect of TENS.25,26 However, no prior study provided a clear answer as to which of the two types is better.
Accordingly, each woman will require her own electrode set.
Size and location of electrodes Adjust specifically to each woman according to thetypical area of her pain.
Education and training should emphasize the fact that the electrode should not be fixed to the same point and should be adjusted to the actual area of pain experienced in each menstrual cycle.		 The choice of electrode size and location depends on the TENS type (HF versus LF), the size of the painful area and the pathophysiology of the condition.26
Focus on HF TENS and apply TENS over nonacupuncture points. The electrode placement is based on the rationale that the HF TENS operates via a segmental mechanism, and the pain pattern usually covers a large area and more than one location (eg, lower back and upper leg).
Two suggested options includetheapplication of the electrodes over the thoracic spine in areas related to the spinal nerve roots that receive nociceptive information from the uterus. Alternatively, place them on dermatomes corresponding to the referred uterine pain (on the lower pelvis, medially, at the suprapubic region in the lower abdominal quadrants).23
Position Use TENS during an activity that is typically interrupted by PD pain. Rational: previous studies indicated that TENS is more effective for reducing pain during movement compared to resting conditions.39
Given thatup to 20% of women may have severe painsthatinterfere with daily activities, it is suggested that they use the dynamic mode.
The TENS apparatusis small and lightweight and can be attached to clothing.
Treatment setting Self-use of TENS at home in accordance with the appearance of PD symptoms. Major advantages of TENS equipment include the facts that they are practical, relatively inexpensive, and easy to use. TENS machines are portable, battery-operated devices.9
Home use of the TENS was evaluated in four studies during menstrual cycles.6,17,8,10 However, no study compared the effectiveness of TENS between clinical and home settings.
It is impractical and time-consuming to use TENS for PD in a clinical setting and an unnecessary utilization of healthcare services, as the symptoms appears for a limited time period (hours to days) every month in young women.
The therapist should be aware that some patients are not suitable for HF TENS, as they cannot tolerate higher intensities.6,19
Adverse effect A safe treatment modality. Pay attention to the skin status and increased menstrual flow.
Caution should be exercised to ensure that TENS is used correctly by the patient.
Only two studies reported adverse effects associated with treatment.18,10 Dawood et al18 reported that 4/32 women using HF TENS experienced muscle vibrations, tightness, and headaches, as well as slight redness or burning of the skin after use. Wang et al10 reported that 1/13 women experienced increased menstrual flow during TENS stimulation. The clinical importance of these minor yet adverse effects is unclear.18 Nevertheless, TENS has fewer side effects than pharmacological agents do.
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Abbreviations: TENS, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; PD, primary dysmenorrhea; HF, high frequency; LF, low frequency.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Summary of recommendations for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in primary dysmenorrhea.

TENS Current Frequency

Sensory-level TENS frequencies are classified in two types: 1) HF (>50 Hz) or 2) LF (2–5 Hz).21 HF and LF mainly differ with regard to the type of sensory fibers that the current activates. HF activates large diameter, non-noxious cutaneous afferent (Aβ) mechanoreceptors, while the small diameter nerves are not stimulated (such as c fibers, muscle efferent, or Aδ fibers). HF is used more often. Accordingly, it is referred as conventional TENS, and is applied at low intensities. The pattern of pulse delivery is usually continuous, although it can be delivered in “bursts” or “trains.”22 The patient experiences an intense, comfortable, nonpainful paresthesia over the site of pain dermatomes. LF TENS consists of high-intensity pulses delivered in a range of frequencies from 1 Hz to 4 Hz, and activates motor efferent nerves to produce phasic muscle twitches. These events ultimately lead to the activation of small-diameter, noxious muscle afferent nerves (GIII, Aδ, ergoreceptors). It is experienced as a strong, painful pulsating sensation which is often accompanied by muscle twitching.

HF TENS was shown to be more effective for pain relief than placebo TENS in PD patients.6,7,10,17–19 By contrast, LF TENS was as efficient as placebo TENS or pills for pain relief.4

HF was preferred over LF when pain relief was reported as a dichotomous variable,4 but when the pain relief was measured by a visual analog scale, there were no significant differences, although there was a trend toward greater pain relief with HF TENS.17 However, one study reported a significant difference in favor of LF TENS for the number of analgesic tablets taken in addition to the treatment.4 The results should be interpreted with caution as only two studies compared the efficiency of HF TENS to LF TENS in PD.17,19

The choice between HF or LF TENS also depends on the consumption of pharmacological agents, in particular analgesics, owing to reciprocal interactions.23 If a patient is taking opioids, HF TENS will likely be more effective, as LF works through the same pathway as the opioids, which may reduce its positive effects.23 In summary, HF TENS is recommended for treating women with PD (for details see Table 1 and Figure 1).

TENS Stimulation Intensity

The intensity of the stimulation is one of the most critical factors affecting the TENS efficacy.15,23 Studies have shown greater and longer-lasting decreases in pain and nociceptive response when TENS is applied at sensory thresholds with higher intensities/current amplitudes in which the individuals reported that the sense was significantly intense noticeable but nonpainful.

By contrast, TENS is not effective when applied at or below the sensory threshold (or placebo).24,25

The degree of hyperalgesia is significantly correlated with the current amplitude. Previous studies of the dose-effect response for TENS in PD could not be compared comprehensively owing to the variations in intensity and missing information.

The recommendation is to apply the TENS at the highest tolerable intensity15,23–25 while adjusting the current amplitude in a continuous manner so that its presence will be noticeable throughout the treatment15,23,25 (for details see Table 1 and Figure 1).

Citing safety concerns, some authors advised setting the stimulation intensity to the individual’s comfort level and not to the highest tolerable level, although it has been shown that the highest tolerable level resulted in greater pain relief. As women with PD are typically healthy and without sensory deficits, we advise clinicians to encourage the users to increase the intensity of the TENS until it reaches the highest tolerable level. However, safety instructions should instruct users with special concerns owing to physiological or personality issues to pay special caution.

Duration, Number, and Frequency of Treatments

The optimal recommended dose, including the number, duration, and frequency of treatments was not uniform. Variations in each of the three dosage components did not allow comparisons among protocols used in previous studies. The number of treatments ranged from one3,7,9,10,19,20 to several.5,6,8,17,18 The duration lasted from 20 mins up to the continuous application for 8 hrs. Further studies are warranted to create an evidence base for recommendations on TENS dosage for women with PD. However, we recommend use of the device whenever severe pain is felt for as long as needed, but 20–30 mins is probably the minimum effective time.26,27

Development of Habituation and Tolerance in Repeated Use of TENS

As PD is experienced on several days every month and may last for years, habituation, tolerance, and repeated use of TENS should be considered

Habituation

Habituation is a decreased response to a repeated stimulus.27 The rate of habituation can be reduced by modulating one of the current parameters, usually the frequency or the amplitude.28 The effectiveness of frequency modulation is questionable.23 By contrast, experimental and clinical studies demonstrated that increasing pulse amplitudes during TENS increased the analgesic effect.25,29 There is no evidence regarding the effects of frequency or intensity modulation among the PD population. However, based on current evidence, we recommend the use of a fixed HF, while continually increase the current intensity to an intense, maximum tolerated sensation, and maintain the sensation during the treatment session.

Repeated Use

Maintenance over time of the positive effect (accumulated effect) of the pain reduction following repeated usage have been reported, eg, in an application of TENS for five days of the week for four weeks in patients with knee osteoarthritis.30

Sluka et al21 explained the accumulation effect based on “the hypothesis that repeated TENS causes rebooting of one or more of the sensitization processes that results in a cumulative and longer-lasting TENS effect” (page 1398 in21).

In addition, the accumulated effect can be explained as an accompanying consequence to decreased levels of pain that results in a greater physical activity level. Higher physical activity levels may maintain the pain relief that is achieved by the application of TENS.

Women who suffer from PD during all of their menses with negative effects on their activities and quality of life can use TENS over time (a few days each month). No studies examined the cumulative effect of TENS on PD, which differs from other chronic pain conditions as it can be referred to a time scale of days or successive months.

However, repeated use of the same dose of HF or LF (intensity, pulse duration) TENS on a daily basis can produce analgesic tolerance, which may decrease its positive effects.21 Decline in the hypoalgesia (measured by the pressure–pain threshold) have been demonstrated in pain-free participants by the fourth or fifth day following daily usage of TENS in equal dose (frequency, intensity, pulse and treatment durations).31

The mode of application may help resolve the conflict between the cumulative effects and tolerance. It has been suggested that for chronic pain, a cumulative effect without the appearance of analgesic tolerance is achieved only if the current intensity is not fixed and there is continuous increase up to the state at which a clear intense sensation of the current is experienced but without the sense of pain. This increase is possible as the user gets accustomed to the current intensity over time, which enables further increases of the intensity to higher levels of tolerance.21 This suggestion is based on animal studies that showed that delayed onset of the analgesic tolerance can be achieved by applying continuous daily increases of the intensity by 10%.32 However, there is not a full understanding of the tolerance mechanisms in chronic pain owing to the intricacy of the neuronal processing alteration in these patients.23 Accordingly, owing to the lack of knowledge on the effects of repeated TENS over time in chronic pain as well as in the PD population,23 we recommend that women who use TENS over a long period should be monitored to detect the development of tolerance.

Long-Term Usage

Only Lauretti et al6 reported self-use of TENS for three months in the PD population, but they did not evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment over time. Most of the conducted “controlled clinical trials examined the TENS efficacy with a single treatment or for periods up to a few weeks” (page 1399 in21). Previous studies that focused on long-term usage (defined as usage for periods of ≥6 months) of TENS by subjects with chronic pain had shown a significant reduction in the consumption of analgestic medication,33–35 diminished usage of physical/occupational therapy services,33,34 and increased physical activity and participation.34 Oosterhof et al36 demonstrated that the positive analgesic effect of TENS and sham TENS in patients with chronic pain is similar and is maintained over a period of one year.Accordingly, owing to the lack of data, there are requirements for performing randomized control studies to explore the effect of TENS efficacy in the long-term (months or years) compared with a placebo in the PD population.

Interactions with Pharmacological Agents

Previous results pointed on the potential interactions of opioid drugs with TENS owing to the mutual mechanism of activation of opioid receptors in the central nerve system.21 It is possible that the inefficiency of TENS is owing to the competition of the opioid receptors with opioid drugs. The frequency of TENS has demonstrated that it affects the type of receptors that are active, whereby LF TENS (1–10 Hz) activates mu-opioid receptors, while HF TENS (50–150 Hz) activates delta-opioid receptors.23

Leonard and colleague37 demonstrated that LF TENS had a positive effect only in patients who did not take opioids, and that there was no effectiveness in opioid-treated patients. However, HF TENS also demonstrated a positive effect in the opioid-treated patients.

As the main treatment option for PD is pain reliever pills, it would be interesting to compare the efficiency of TENS to pills. Three studies6,7,18 examined the use of analgesics in addition to TENS or compared these two treatment options. Dawood18 found that ibuprofen alone provided better pain relief than did active and sham TENS. Using HF TENS, the amount of ibuprofen consumed for up to 12 h was reduced, and significantly delayed the need for additional administration. In addition, application of TENS along with consumption of ibuprofen provided better pain reduction compared to TENS alone. Lundeberg et al19 stated that it appears that HF TENS is more effective than verapamil for pain relief and that HF TENS evoked almost the same effect as naproxen. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, as only descriptive data have been published, without statistical analyses. Lundeberg et al19 also examined six participants who had experienced pain relief with both HF and LF TENS, as the compound effect of the prescription and application of both treatment options. Accordingly, in four individuals, the supplement of intravenous naloxone hydrochloride solution to LF TENS abolished the positive effect of pain reduction gained by the LF TENS, whereas in the same individual the supplement did not alter the positive effect of HF TENS.

This may support findings from previous studies which suggested that the action mechanism of pain decrease evoked by LF TENS is different from HF (endogenous opioids versus nonopioid pathways, respectively) and mediates that evoked by HF TENS, whereas pain relief obtained with LF TENS appeared to be involved also. Yet, the reported study included very few subjects.4

Conclusions

PD has a negative effect on almost every facet of a woman’s life for a few days each month over a period of multiple years. Managing PD with pharmacological agents is associated with considerable undesirable side effects. The major advantages of TENS are that is it is an easy-to-use, safe, portable, battery-operated, and relatively inexpensive device. The action mechanism of TENS is based on the enhancement of the endogenous inhibition and the suppression of central excitability.

The evoked results of previous studies demonstrated the positive effects of TENS in reducing pain and related PD symptoms, the improvement of the quality of life, and the decreased use of additional analgesics. Although these studies were associated with some flaws and limitations in their methodological quality and therapeutic validity, herein, recommendations and considerations for the effective use of TENS for managing PD were outlined. Regular, continuous self-administration in accordance with the appearance of PD symptoms is suggested after the initial patient education and setting, and after the adjustment of the TENS parameters by the therapist. Electrode placement should not be fixed at one point but should be moved and placed on the painful area(s). A HF (100 Hz) is suggested owing to the proven effectiveness with PD and the comfortable, convenient use. HF TENS may be more effective for people taking opioids. LF TENS may be considered in special cases of regular analgesic consumption. The most important parameter is the current intensity, which should be set to a nonpainful, maximal tolerable intensity level. The intensity should be increased continually throughout the treatment session to maintain an intense sensation and avoid habituation. TENS is probably ineffective for women who cannot reach and maintain increased current intensities.

Additional higher quality research studies are required to expand the current knowledge on the applications of TENS for PD based on large sample datasets. Adequate dosing (number of treatments, duration, and frequency) in managing PD should be explored. Additional investigations should determine if a “wash-out” period is required for women who use TENS regularly during menstruation. Using the Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (IMMPACT) guidelines as outcome measures in clinical trials on pain38 will further assist in the adequate comparison of TENS with other treatment options. Furthermore, the evaluated outcomes should be expanded beyond the resting pain to include activity levels, function, and quality of life.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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