Effectiveness of immersive virtual reality-based interventions for alleviating peri- and post-procedural pain and anxiety in gynecologic settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Cristina González-Lara, Marina Piñar-Lara, Esteban Obrero-Gaitán et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials assessed immersive virtual reality (IVR) for pain and anxiety during and after gynecologic procedures. The trials included 2438 women, with a mean age of 35.3 ± 12.6 years. Compared with standard care or other therapeutic approaches, IVR was associated with lower intraprocedural pain (SMD = -0.46, 95% CI: -0.71 to -0.21, P < 0.001) and anxiety (SMD = -0.33, 95% CI: -0.63 to -0.03, P = 0.031), with further reductions in both outcomes post-procedure. Reported adverse events were minor and infrequent.
Key findings
- Intraprocedural pain was lower with IVR (SMD = -0.46, 95% CI: -0.71 to -0.21, P < 0.001).
- Intraprocedural anxiety was lower with IVR (SMD = -0.33, 95% CI: -0.63 to -0.03, P = 0.031).
- Post-procedural pain (SMD = -0.81, 95% CI: -1.12 to -0.5, P < 0.001) and anxiety (SMD = -0.76, 95% CI: -1.22 to -0.3, P = 0.001) were reduced.
- Reported adverse events during IVR exposure were minor and infrequent.
Why it matters
Pain and anxiety around gynecologic procedures are clinically relevant outcomes, and this synthesis of randomized trials found reductions both during procedures and afterward. The findings also indicate that reported IVR-related adverse events were uncommon and minor, supporting consideration of IVR as a non-pharmacological adjunct while recognizing that effects may vary across procedures and settings.