Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Pain Management With Medication Abortion Through 70 Days' Gestation

A Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Pain Management With Medication Abortion Through 70 Days' Gestation

This is a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the use of High-frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (HfTENS) compared to sham TENS for pain control during medication abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol through 70 days' gestation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients seeking medication abortion with a definite, singleton, intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) < 70 days' gestation on ultrasound
• Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Short Form (REALM-SF)22 score > 4
• Age equal to or greater than 18 years
• Provide informed consent to participate
• Willing to adhere to study procedures, including access to a smart phone, ability to receive text messages and answer online surveys on smart phone

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindication to medication abortion
• Allergy to mifepristone or misoprostol
• Contraindication or allergy to ibuprofen
• History of cardiac arrhythmia
• Presence of an implantable device with electrical discharge, i.e. cardiac pacemaker
• History of chronic pain disorder
• Any opioid use during previous 30 days
• Current or prior use of TENS
• BMI > 30