ArticleInternational journal of women's health2026
Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Menstrual Pain and Premenstrual Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Article in International journal of women's health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are common gynecological conditions that impair quality of life and productivity. Current treatments are mostly pharmacological and often come with side effects. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique for pain and mood symptoms. Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of home-based, self-administered dual-target tDCS on menstrual pain, mood symptoms, functional capacity, and quality of life in women with PD and PMS. Forty participants were randomized to receive either active or sham tDCS over five days in a menstrual cycle. Primary and secondary outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and one-cycle follow-up. Results: No significant group-by-time interaction was found for menstrual pain (VAS) (F(2,64)=1.09, p=0.34). Menstrual pain decreased over time in both groups (F(2,64)=7.93, p<0.001). At follow-up (T2), mean VAS was 23.44 ± 29.31 in the active group vs 39.43 ± 31.10 in the sham group (Cohen's d = -0.53; 95% CI -37.2;5.2). Exploratory analyses suggested improvements in negative mood (Estimate = 3.50, SE = 1.41; 95% CI 0.74-6.26) and psychological quality of life (Estimate = 0.36, SE = 0.15; 95% CI 0.07-0.65). No serious adverse events were reported, and most adverse effects were mild. Conclusion: Home-based self-administered tDCS may be a safe and potentially beneficial non-pharmacological approach for managing menstrual pain and emotional symptoms in women with PD and PMS. Larger trials with longer follow-up periods are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings and to better understand possible longer-term effects.
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