AnxietyPhase 2NCT06316934
Lavender Aromatherapy to Decrease Anxiety/Pain Perception During Office Hysteroscopy
A Phase 2 study testing Lavandula angustifolia, Aura Cacia in people with Anxiety and Pain, Procedural, run by University of Florida at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Office hysteroscopy is an invaluable practice to treat a myriad of gynecological processes. However, a limiting factor is the perceived pain and anxiety. In a randomized pilot study, treatment with lavender aromatherapy will significantly decrease the stress/anxiety levels associated with office hysteroscopy, as… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 99 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Anxiety, Pain, Procedural
- What is being tested?
- Lavandula angustifolia, Aura Cacia
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 22 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2024to 21 Apr 2025
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 99 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Women aged 18 and over
- Scheduled to undergo office hysteroscopy procedure
- Able to give informed consent
- Able to read and write in English
- Anxiety score > 0 on a numerical scale at baseline
Who cannot join
- Any contraindication to office hysteroscopy (active pelvic infection, confirmed cervical or endometrial cancer severe hypertension, or any other condition that might be worsened by an uncomfortable test)
- Allergy to lavender oil, or any of its components
- Withdrawal Criteria
- The patient requests terminating participation
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Use of Lavender Aromatherapy to Decrease Women's Anxiety and Perception of Pain During Office Hysteroscopy Procedure
Office hysteroscopy is an invaluable practice to treat a myriad of gynecological processes. However, a limiting factor is the perceived pain and anxiety. In a randomized pilot study, treatment with lavender aromatherapy will significantly decrease the stress/anxiety levels associated with office hysteroscopy, as measured on a visual analogue scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire when compared to control subjects receiving distilled water placebo.
Read the detailed description
This study is a randomized placebo control trial. The designation of aromatherapy versus placebo will be randomized, but no procedures will be performed for study purposes that would not be normally performed for a patient's clinical assessment.
Women scheduled for Office Hysteroscopy at the Women's Health Medical Plaza Clinic (UF Shands) clinic will be invited to participate. Participants who meet inclusion criteria will be randomized to the aromatherapy or the placebo group after informed consent is obtained and immediately before undergoing the Hysteroscopy procedure. Sequentially numbered sealed opaque envelopes containing the identity of the study arm will be used for randomization. The Medical Plaza clinic nurse will prepare the aromatherapy versus distilled water on the paper towel with two drops of each utilized. Before the physician comes in, the nurse will ask the participant to take a deep breath while holding the towel 3 inches from her face and will instruct the participant to continue to take normal breaths subsequently. It will not be possible to blind the participants or the examiner to the assigned group since the lavender oil will have a different scent than the placebo. However, the use of distilled water on the towel will allow the possibility that the deep breathing accompanying the instruction may have an effect on reported pain and anxiety.
Vaginoscopy approach will be utilized to perform the procedure. This avoids the use of a speculum in the vagina or tenaculum to grasp the cervix. This is a atraumatic technique that reduces pain stimuli generated from the cervix and the vagina when using manipulating instruments. Vaginoscopy relies on hydrodilation of the cervical canal for entry of a small-caliber scope. This technique involves distending the vaginal vault with normal saline and advancing the scope to the posterior fornix. Gently pulling back until the external cervical os is visualized and then the scope is advanced into the cervical canal.
The participant will undergo the standard clinic exam in a standardized order. The participants will complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Survey (HADS) at baseline. The HADS (Appendix II) is a reliable instrument for detecting states of depression and anxiety in the setting of a hospital medical outpatient clinic; it is available in English and Spanish versions. This will be used to establish their baseline anxiety levels. Participants will then be asked to rate their level of anxiety and pain immediately before beginning the exam, immediately after hysteroscope placement, and 15 min after termination of the study using a 10-point visual analogue scale and the Wong-Baker pain scale. At the end, the participants will also be asked to rate their satisfaction with the visit overall on a visual analogue scale.
- Conditions
- Anxiety, Pain, Procedural
- Being tested
- Lavandula angustifolia, Aura Cacia, Placebo
- Keywords
- Aromatherapy, Hysteroscopy, Lavender
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders, Pain, Procedural
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Lavandula angustifolia, Aura CaciaDrug
Lavender essential oil will be placed on paper towel which patient will deeply inhale prior to the start of the procedure.
PlaceboOther
Also called Distilled water
Distilled water will be placed on paper towel which patient will deeply inhale prior to the start of the procedure.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Prior to starting the procedure, the clinic nurse will prepare the distilled water on a paper towel by applying two drops of each solution on a paper towel. The patients will hold the paper towel over their nose and then they will be asked to take two deep breaths. Before the physician comes in, the nurse will ask the participant to take a deep breath while holding the towel 3 inches from her face and will instruct the participant to continue to take normal breaths subsequently Receives: Other: Placebo |
| Experimental | Experimental | Prior to starting the procedure, the clinic nurse will prepare the aromatherapy Lavender essential oil on a paper towel by applying two drops of each solution on a paper towel. The patients will hold the paper towel over their nose and then they will be asked to take two deep breaths. Before the physician comes in, the nurse will ask the participant to take a deep breath while holding the towel 3 inches from her face and will instruct the participant to continue to take normal breaths subsequently Receives: Drug: Lavandula angustifolia, Aura Cacia |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Determine the Change in Pain Scores.
Participants will then be asked to rate their level of pain immediately before beginning the exam, immediately after catheter placement, and 15 min after termination of the study using the Wong-Baker pain scale. 0 would be no pain at all and 10 would be the worst pain.
Measured: immediately before exam, immediately after cath placement, and 15min after the 30-minute procedure
Determine Change in Anxiety Scores.
Participants will then be asked to rate their level of anxiety immediately before beginning the exam, immediately after catheter placement, and 15 min after termination of the study using a 10-point visual analog scale. 0 corresponds with a pleasant face and represents no anxiety at all and 10 corresponds with a face in distress and represents high levels of anxiety.
Measured: immediately before exam, immediately after cath placement, and 15min after the 30-minute procedure
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Mar 2024
- Study start1 Jun 2024
- Primary completion21 Apr 2025
- Study completion21 Apr 2025
Why it stopped: Study terminated early secondary to limited staffing resources
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of FloridaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- The participants will be randomized into two arms - aromatherapy or placebo. The protocol will be the same for the two arms except that the towel held over the mouth will be scented either with lavender essential oil or distilled water. The clinic nurse will prepare the scented towel and hand it to the participant according to the random assignment.
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 22 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Florida
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Tiffani-Amber Miller, MD, Principal investigator, University of Florida
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06316934
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB202302181
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 6 Feb 2024
- Last updated
- 10 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data is not intended to be shared with other researchers
Publications
Buzzaccarini G, Alonso Pacheco L, Vitagliano A, Haimovich S, Chiantera V, Torok P, Vitale SG, Lagana AS, Carugno J. Pain Management during Office Hysteroscopy: An Evidence-Based Approach. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Aug 20;58(8):1132. doi: 10.3390/medicina58081132.
PubMed 36013599Fouks Y, Kern G, Cohen A, Reicher L, Shapira Z, Many A, Yogev Y, Rattan G. A virtual reality system for pain and anxiety management during outpatient hysteroscopy-A randomized control trial. Eur J Pain. 2022 Mar;26(3):600-609. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1882. Epub 2021 Nov 23.
PubMed 34748679Gambadauro P, Navaratnarajah R, Carli V. Anxiety at outpatient hysteroscopy. Gynecol Surg. 2015;12(3):189-196. doi: 10.1007/s10397-015-0895-3. Epub 2015 May 13.
PubMed 26283891Vitale SG, Caruso S, Ciebiera M, Torok P, Tesarik J, Vilos GA, Cholkeri-Singh A, Gulino FA, Kamath MS, Cianci A. Management of anxiety and pain perception in women undergoing office hysteroscopy: a systematic review. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2020 Apr;301(4):885-894. doi: 10.1007/s00404-020-05460-2. Epub 2020 Mar 5.
PubMed 32140807
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Use of Lavender Aromatherapy to Decrease Women's Anxiety and Perception of Pain During Office Hysteroscopy Procedure
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06316934
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB202302181
- Conditions
- Anxiety, Pain, Procedural
- Keywords
- Aromatherapy, Hysteroscopy, Lavender
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- TerminatedReason stopped: Study terminated early secondary to limited staffing resources
- Enrolment
- 22 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of FloridaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 21 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 21 Apr 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 10 Jun 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Office hysteroscopy is an invaluable practice to treat a myriad of gynecological processes. However, a limiting factor is the perceived pain and anxiety. In a randomized pilot study, treatment with lavender aromatherapy will significantly decrease the stress/anxiety levels associated with office hysteroscopy, as measured on a visual analogue scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire when compared to control subjects receiving distilled water placebo.
Detailed description
This study is a randomized placebo control trial. The designation of aromatherapy versus placebo will be randomized, but no procedures will be performed for study purposes that would not be normally performed for a patient's clinical assessment.
Women scheduled for Office Hysteroscopy at the Women's Health Medical Plaza Clinic (UF Shands) clinic will be invited to participate. Participants who meet inclusion criteria will be randomized to the aromatherapy or the placebo group after informed consent is obtained and immediately before undergoing the Hysteroscopy procedure. Sequentially numbered sealed opaque envelopes containing the identity of the study arm will be used for randomization. The Medical Plaza clinic nurse will prepare the aromatherapy versus distilled water on the paper towel with two drops of each utilized. Before the physician comes in, the nurse will ask the participant to take a deep breath while holding the towel 3 inches from her face and will instruct the participant to continue to take normal breaths subsequently. It will not be possible to blind the participants or the examiner to the assigned group since the lavender oil will have a different scent than the placebo. However, the use of distilled water on the towel will allow the possibility that the deep breathing accompanying the instruction may have an effect on reported pain and anxiety.
Vaginoscopy approach will be utilized to perform the procedure. This avoids the use of a speculum in the vagina or tenaculum to grasp the cervix. This is a atraumatic technique that reduces pain stimuli generated from the cervix and the vagina when using manipulating instruments. Vaginoscopy relies on hydrodilation of the cervical canal for entry of a small-caliber scope. This technique involves distending the vaginal vault with normal saline and advancing the scope to the posterior fornix. Gently pulling back until the external cervical os is visualized and then the scope is advanced into the cervical canal.
The participant will undergo the standard clinic exam in a standardized order. The participants will complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Survey (HADS) at baseline. The HADS (Appendix II) is a reliable instrument for detecting states of depression and anxiety in the setting of a hospital medical outpatient clinic; it is available in English and Spanish versions. This will be used to establish their baseline anxiety levels. Participants will then be asked to rate their level of anxiety and pain immediately before beginning the exam, immediately after hysteroscope placement, and 15 min after termination of the study using a 10-point visual analogue scale and the Wong-Baker pain scale. At the end, the participants will also be asked to rate their satisfaction with the visit overall on a visual analogue scale.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- The participants will be randomized into two arms - aromatherapy or placebo. The protocol will be the same for the two arms except that the towel held over the mouth will be scented either with lavender essential oil or distilled water. The clinic nurse will prepare the scented towel and hand it to the participant according to the random assignment.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Other: PlaceboPrior to starting the procedure, the clinic nurse will prepare the distilled water on a paper towel by applying two drops of each solution on a paper towel. The patients will hold the paper towel over their nose and then they will be asked to take two deep breaths. Before the physician comes in, the nurse will ask the participant to take a deep breath while holding the towel 3 inches from her face and will instruct the participant to continue to take normal breaths subsequently |
| Experimental | Experimental | Drug: Lavandula angustifolia, Aura CaciaPrior to starting the procedure, the clinic nurse will prepare the aromatherapy Lavender essential oil on a paper towel by applying two drops of each solution on a paper towel. The patients will hold the paper towel over their nose and then they will be asked to take two deep breaths. Before the physician comes in, the nurse will ask the participant to take a deep breath while holding the towel 3 inches from her face and will instruct the participant to continue to take normal breaths subsequently |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 99 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Withdrawal Criteria
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Lavandula angustifolia, Aura CaciaLavender essential oil will be placed on paper towel which patient will deeply inhale prior to the start of the procedure. | Drug | Experimental |
| PlaceboAlso: Distilled waterDistilled water will be placed on paper towel which patient will deeply inhale prior to the start of the procedure. | Other | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Determine the Change in Pain Scores.
Time frame: immediately before exam, immediately after cath placement, and 15min after the 30-minute procedure
Participants will then be asked to rate their level of pain immediately before beginning the exam, immediately after catheter placement, and 15 min after termination of the study using the Wong-Baker pain scale. 0 would be no pain at all and 10 would be the worst pain.
Determine Change in Anxiety Scores.
Time frame: immediately before exam, immediately after cath placement, and 15min after the 30-minute procedure
Participants will then be asked to rate their level of anxiety immediately before beginning the exam, immediately after catheter placement, and 15 min after termination of the study using a 10-point visual analog scale. 0 corresponds with a pleasant face and represents no anxiety at all and 10 corresponds with a face in distress and represents high levels of anxiety.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Jun 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 36013599Buzzaccarini G, Alonso Pacheco L, Vitagliano A, Haimovich S, Chiantera V, Torok P, Vitale SG, Lagana AS, Carugno J. Pain Management during Office Hysteroscopy: An Evidence-Based Approach. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Aug 20;58(8):1132. doi: 10.3390/medicina58081132.
- Background: PubMed 34748679Fouks Y, Kern G, Cohen A, Reicher L, Shapira Z, Many A, Yogev Y, Rattan G. A virtual reality system for pain and anxiety management during outpatient hysteroscopy-A randomized control trial. Eur J Pain. 2022 Mar;26(3):600-609. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1882. Epub 2021 Nov 23.
- Background: PubMed 26283891Gambadauro P, Navaratnarajah R, Carli V. Anxiety at outpatient hysteroscopy. Gynecol Surg. 2015;12(3):189-196. doi: 10.1007/s10397-015-0895-3. Epub 2015 May 13.
- Background: PubMed 32140807Vitale SG, Caruso S, Ciebiera M, Torok P, Tesarik J, Vilos GA, Cholkeri-Singh A, Gulino FA, Kamath MS, Cianci A. Management of anxiety and pain perception in women undergoing office hysteroscopy: a systematic review. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2020 Apr;301(4):885-894. doi: 10.1007/s00404-020-05460-2. Epub 2020 Mar 5.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data is not intended to be shared with other researchers
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Tiffani-Amber Miller, MD principal investigator
University of Florida
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Lavandula angustifolia, Aura Cacia in people with Anxiety and Pain, Procedural, run by University of Florida at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 10 Jun 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Determine the Change in Pain Scores. (time frame: immediately before exam, immediately after cath placement, and 15min after the 30-minute procedure). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06316934, which also lists 4 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Jun 2026.