What does TENS mean?
TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and is one of the so-called complementary, non-pharmacological treatment methods for various pain conditions.
How does a TENS unit work?
In TENS therapy, a medically effective but in most cases harmless electric current is conducted through the skin by adhesive electrodes into the underlying tissue. Current impulses of varying voltages are used. High frequencies cause a change in pain transmission in the nerves and altered pain transmission to the brain. Low frequencies lead to the release of endorphins, which are the body's own morphine-like substances.
During application, impulses of low frequency, 2-10 Hz, or high frequency, about 80-100 Hz, are used. The stimulus itself is not painful, it may be a slight tingling on the skin. TENS devices with adjustable pulse strength allow for a subjectively comfortable treatment situation while simultaneously reducing pain.
How often is a TENS device used for menstrual pain?
Often, TENS devices have preset programs that have a set treatment duration. The specified treatment recommendations vary from 3-5x per day for 15-30 minutes. There are also TENS devices where the treatment duration can be freely adjusted from 1-99 minutes. The treatment duration and intensity can vary individually according to the type and severity of the pain condition. With the ONEflow from menstruflow, several treatments per day are possible.
Treatment with a TENS device for menstrual pain
The use of a TENS device for severe menstrual pain has been researched in many studies. A systematic analysis from the year 2020 compared 571 reports on the use of a TENS device in 260 women with severe menstrual pain. Statistically, the treatment was more effective than a sham acupuncture for comparison 1. Other studies showed an equivalent effect of TENS therapy compared with heat therapy. Both showed a roughly equal effect on the reduction of severe menstrual pain 2. A third study showed that TENS compared to sham acupuncture is a safe and effective method to alleviate severe menstrual pain. The duration and intensity of the cramps and the number of used ibuprofen tablets were reduced. Moreover, the effect of the TENS therapy lasted longer, i.e., the women were pain-free for longer 3.
Who is allowed to use a TENS device for the treatment of severe menstrual pain?
Actually, every healthy woman is allowed to use a TENS device for the treatment of menstrual pain. However, the usual contraindications for the use of a TENS device should be observed, such as metallic implants in the treatment area, skin injuries, pacemakers, or suspected pregnancy. The instructions for use should be read carefully, and in case of questions, for example, the gynecologist should be consulted.
What special advantages does a TENS device offer?
The advantage of a small TENS device for the treatment of severe menstrual pain is the application at any time. There are small devices, for example, that can fit in a trouser pocket and can be worn inconspicuously all day. Even during sports, the adhesive electrodes hardly interfere.
A TENS device offers, for example, a safe treatment to support a medicinal therapy of menstrual pain with painkillers. In many cases, it is possible to do without painkillers or even hormonal therapy, for example, with the pill, during treatment with the device. The side effect is then that the side effects of hormone or painkiller therapy are mitigated or, in the best case, do not occur at all. However, in case of unclear abdominal pain, a medical clarification should always be carried out before treatment.
Especially for young women or if you have a desire to have children, this method offers a safe alternative. Moreover, pain therapy with a TENS device can also alleviate pain in endometriosis. For detailed information about endometriosis and how it can affect your daily life, we recommend our other post "Endometriosis: Everything You Need to Know". There you will learn more about this often painful condition and how our TENS device ONEflow can help you with pain relief.
Application tips
- A TENS device can of course be activated at any time, i.e., at any stage of pain. It is advisable to start treatment when the pain intensity begins to increase. So do not wait until you can no longer bear it. From pain therapy in conventional medicine, we know that pain medication with tablets should start when the pain announces itself. Then the need for pain medication is much lower. So, it also makes sense to start treatment with a TENS device right at the beginning of the period.
- Every woman is unique in her sensitivity to pain. Therefore, the treatment duration and the respective program are individually different. During application, each woman can find her own treatment tailored to her body. And this without chemistry and without side effects.
- Furthermore, we know that the pain relief after the end of treatment with the TENS device varies. Maybe only a few treatment cycles are necessary. In the case of very severe pain, it is possible to apply the TENS device during the strongest phase of abdominal cramps for several hours.
1 (The effect of TENS for pain relief in women with primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis Explore (NY),2022Jan-Feb;18(1):108-113)
2 TENS and heat therapy for pain relief and quality of life improvement in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review (Complement Ther Clin Pract.2016 Aug;86-91
3 Medicine (Baltimore),2017 Sep.;96(36) Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.