effect of peripheral neuromodulation on vaginal blood flow

Conditions: Female Sexual Dysfunction; Spinal Cord Injuries

Summary: the researchers want to see if nerve stimulation interventions cause a change in vaginal blood flow. the effect of this intervention will be compared between women who have neurogenic (spinal cord injury) or non-neurogenic dysfunction and healthy women.


Eligibility criteria:
non-dysfunction participants, no spinal cord injury inclusion criteria: * adult (over 18 years old) cis-gender female * neurologically stable * sexually active at least once per month * able to consent and communicate effectively with research team exclusion criteria: * male * pregnancy or planning to become pregnant during study period * sexual dysfunction, per short-form female sexual function index (fsfi) score below 19 * lubrication difficulties, per short-form fsfi lubrication subdomain score below or equal to 4 * clinically diagnosed bladder dysfunction, pelvic pain, or other pelvic organ symptoms * suspected or diagnosed epilepsy * active infection or active pressure sores in the perineal region * implanted pacemaker, defibrillator, spinal cord stimulator, or other nerve stimulator * currently has or tested positive in the last 14 days for covid-19 or is symptomatic for covid-19. sexual dysfunction participants, non- spinal cord injury inclusion criteria: * adult (over 18 years old) cis-gender female * neurologically stable * sexually active at least once per month * sexual dysfunction, per short-form fsfi score below 19 * lubrication difficulties, per short-form fsfi lubrication subdomain score below or equal to 3 * able to understand consent and communicate effectively with research team exclusion criteria: * male * pregnancy or planning to become pregnant during study period * clinically diagnosed bladder dysfunction, pelvic pain, or other pelvic organ symptoms * active infection or active pressure sores in the pelvic region * implanted pacemaker or defibrillator * currently has or tested positive in the last 14 days for covid-19 or is symptomatic for covid-19. sexual dysfunction participants with spinal cord injury inclusion criteria: * adult (over 18 years old) cis-gender women * clinically diagnosed spinal cord injury (ais a-b) at vertebral level within c6-t10 at least six months prior or clinically diagnosed spinal cord injury (ais c) at vertebral level within c4-t10 at least six months prior * nominally sexually active, but at minimum interest in sexual pleasure even if fully self-induced * sexual dysfunction, per short-form fsfi score below 19 * able to understand consent and communicate effectively with research team exclusion criteria: * male * spinal cord injury at or above c5 level (c1-c5) if ais a or b, or spinal cord injury at or above c3 level (c1-c3) if ais c * spinal cord injury below t10 vertebral level or reflexes not preserved * acute worsening in motor or sensory function in the last month * suspected or diagnosed epilepsy * pregnancy or planning to become pregnant during study period * active infection or active pressure sores in the perineal region * implanted pacemaker or defibrillator * currently has or tested positive in the last 14 days for covid-19 or is symptomatic for covid-19.

Keywords: peripheral neuromodulation stimulation vaginal blood flow