PEMF Therapy for Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome

This study is looking into how safe and effective a non-drug treatment called Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy is for women with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS). The study will give participants a BEMER PEMF device, which includes a full-body mat and a pelvic pad, or a sham device that looks identical but doesn't emit a field. Researchers want to see if using the PEMF device can reduce bladder and pelvic pain, as measured by a pain questionnaire. To join, you must be a woman between 18 and 80 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of IC/BPS and a current pain score of 6 or higher. The study is currently recruiting participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 75 female participants. It compares an active PEMF device to a sham (inactive) PEMF device.
What's involved
Data will be collected at the start of the study, after 4 weeks of using the PEMF therapy, and then at 8, 12, and 16 weeks after enrollment.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 16 weeks after enrollment to measure changes in pelvic pain.

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NCT05149573

Investigation of PEMF Therapy for Female Patients With IC/BPS

Recruiting
NAAges 18–80InterventionalTreatment
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
~75 participants
Updated 2026-05-07 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) DeviceSham Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Device

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Pelvic pain, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Short Form
Measured over Baseline
+4 more outcomes measured
Interstitial Cystitis
Chronic Interstitial Cystitis
Bladder Pain Syndrome
1 sites across 1 states
North Carolina1
  • Stephen J Walker, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Wake Forest University Health Sciences

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Previously established clinical diagnosis of IC/PS
Current numeric rating scale (NRS) score of ≥ 6
History of cystoscopy with hydrodistension with bladder capacity determination under anesthesia
No cognitive deficits

Exclusion

History of bladder, ovarian, vaginal cancer
History of urethral diverticulum
History of radiation cystitis
History of spinal cord injury or spina bifida
History of Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke
Current placement of a pacemaker or metal prosthesis
Active urinary tract infection
BMI \> 40
Residual urine of \> 100cc
Current pregnant
  • Pelvic pain, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Short FormBaseline

    The BPI Short Form is a validated questionnaire to assess the severity of systemic and pelvic pain and its interference in overall quality of life. Pain severity is measured through four 11-point numeric rating scales (NRS) assessing pain at its "worst," "least," and "average," within the past week, and pain "right now" (at the time of short form completion), with the composite (mean score) of all four scales indicating overall pelvic pain. Pain interference is measured through 7 scales, with scores ranging from 0 (does not interfere) to 10 (completely interferes), for different daily activities. The composite score for the interference items is used to assess overall pain interference, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity and a change in 2 points indicating a significant change in pain. The form also consists of 3 pain body maps to identify specific locations of pain, and 2 questions related to the effect of current medications on pain.

  • Change from baseline pelvic pain, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Short FormWeek 4

    The BPI Short Form is a validated questionnaire to assess the severity of systemic and pelvic pain and its interference in overall quality of life. Pain severity is measured through four 11-point numeric rating scales (NRS) assessing pain at its "worst," "least," and "average," within the past week, and pain "right now" (at the time of short form completion), with the composite (mean score) of all four scales indicating overall pelvic pain. Pain interference is measured through 7 scales, with scores ranging from 0 (does not interfere) to 10 (completely interferes), for different daily activities. The composite score for the interference items is used to assess overall pain interference, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity and a change in 2 points indicating a significant change in pain. The form also consists of 3 pain body maps to identify specific locations of pain, and 2 questions related to the effect of current medications on pain.

  • Change from baseline pelvic pain, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Short FormWeek 8

    The BPI Short Form is a validated questionnaire to assess the severity of systemic and pelvic pain and its interference in overall quality of life. Pain severity is measured through four 11-point numeric rating scales (NRS) assessing pain at its "worst," "least," and "average," within the past week, and pain "right now" (at the time of short form completion), with the composite (mean score) of all four scales indicating overall pelvic pain. Pain interference is measured through 7 scales, with scores ranging from 0 (does not interfere) to 10 (completely interferes), for different daily activities. The composite score for the interference items is used to assess overall pain interference, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity and a change in 2 points indicating a significant change in pain. The form also consists of 3 pain body maps to identify specific locations of pain, and 2 questions related to the effect of current medications on pain.

  • Change from baseline pelvic pain, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Short FormWeek 12

    The BPI Short Form is a validated questionnaire to assess the severity of systemic and pelvic pain and its interference in overall quality of life. Pain severity is measured through four 11-point numeric rating scales (NRS) assessing pain at its "worst," "least," and "average," within the past week, and pain "right now" (at the time of short form completion), with the composite (mean score) of all four scales indicating overall pelvic pain. Pain interference is measured through 7 scales, with scores ranging from 0 (does not interfere) to 10 (completely interferes), for different daily activities. The composite score for the interference items is used to assess overall pain interference, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity and a change in 2 points indicating a significant change in pain. The form also consists of 3 pain body maps to identify specific locations of pain, and 2 questions related to the effect of current medications on pain.

  • Change from baseline pelvic pain, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Short FormWeek 16

    The BPI Short Form is a validated questionnaire to assess the severity of systemic and pelvic pain and its interference in overall quality of life. Pain severity is measured through four 11-point numeric rating scales (NRS) assessing pain at its "worst," "least," and "average," within the past week, and pain "right now" (at the time of short form completion), with the composite (mean score) of all four scales indicating overall pelvic pain. Pain interference is measured through 7 scales, with scores ranging from 0 (does not interfere) to 10 (completely interferes), for different daily activities. The composite score for the interference items is used to assess overall pain interference, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity and a change in 2 points indicating a significant change in pain. The form also consists of 3 pain body maps to identify specific locations of pain, and 2 questions related to the effect of current medications on pain.