ReviewAJOG global reports2026
Reducing pain and anxiety with virtual reality in (outpatient) gynecological procedures: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Review in AJOG global reports, 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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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly used in medicine for pain and anxiety management. It has been frequently studied in the field of Gynecology and Obstetrics and found effective during labour. However, its application during (outpatient) gynecological procedures as pain and anxiety management remains underexplored. Objective: This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to study the effect of VR on pain, anxiety and patient experiences when provided during (outpatient) gynecological procedures. Study design: A systematic review was performed, by systematically searching PubMed, Embase, APA PsycInfo and Web of Science (Core Collection) from inception to March 20th 2024. Articles on the effect of VR on pain (VAS or NRS) and anxiety (all measurement tools) during (outpatient) gynecological procedures were included. Study designs had to be randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cohort studies. Data were collected independently by two reviewers. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate mean differences (MD) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95%CI), Sensitivity analyses and a subgroup analysis were performed. Results: Thirteen RCTs, published between 2015 and 2024, reporting on VR during (outpatient) gynecological procedures for benign conditions were included. Virtual Reality significantly improved overall pain scores (MD -0.95 (95%CI -1.44 to -0.47); n=12, I Conclusion: The meta-analysis suggests that VR could positively influence overall pain and procedural anxiety. Not all studies reported on all outcome measures which might have introduced reporting bias and lead to an overestimation of the effect of VR. Future studies should further study the correlation between pain and anxiety and the effect of VR on this. However, VR provides an alternative to pain medication, without the risks associated with pharmaceuticals, making it an attractive option.
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