Longevity & AgingEar Nerve Stimulation Slashes Cesarean Contraction Pain by 82%
A randomized clinical trial of 156 women undergoing elective cesarean delivery found that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) — applying electrical current to the ear to stimulate the vagus nerve — reduced moderate-to-severe postpartum uterine contraction pain from 28% to just 5% by day three. Administered for 30 minutes daily on the day of surgery and the following two days, taVNS also lowered incision pain scores, reduced postpartum anxiety and depression ratings, improved sleep quality, and enhanced overall recovery quality compared to sham stimulation. No significant adverse effects were reported, suggesting taVNS is a safe, noninvasive complement to standard post-cesarean pain management.
