Effect of Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Pain and Symptoms in Primary Dysmenorrhea

This study aims to investigate the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on menstrual pain, pain threshold, depression, anxiety, menstrual symptoms, premenstrual syndrome, and functional and emotional impact of dysmenorrhea in young adult women with primary dysmenorrhea.

Inclusion Criteria: * Female participants aged 18 years and older * Diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) * Having regular menstrual cycles within the last 6 months * Reporting menstrual pain intensity of at least 40 mm on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) * Willingness to participate in the study and providing informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of secondary dysmenorrhea * Irregular menstrual cycles * Menstrual cycle length shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days * History of pregnancy or childbirth, or current pregnancy * Use of intrauterine device (IUD) or oral contraceptives * Current use of sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, or psychotropic medication * History of pelvic surgery or presence of pelvic pathology * Presence of chronic, systemic, cardiovascular, or neurological diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia, bradycardia, hypotension, hypotonic disorders, etc.) * Presence of ear implants, ear wounds, or ear infections * Presence of implanted electronic devices such as pacemakers