Efficacy of Lavender Aroma Inhalation for Pain and Anxiety Relief during Endometrial Sampling in Women Aged at Least 35 Years Old with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of lavender essential oil inhalation for pain and anxiety relief in the endometrial biopsy procedure. Materials and Methods: This single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted at the gynecology outpatient clinic, Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand, between June 2024 and March 2025. Participants were women aged 35 years and older with abnormal uterine bleeding and equally randomized to receive either lavender essential oil, as the study group, or sterile water, as the control group. inhalation. Pain and anxiety were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the visual facial anxiety scale (VFAS) at three time-points: anticipatory, during procedure, and 15 minutes post-procedure. Results: One hundred forty women were recruited. The study group had significantly reduced pain during and 15 minutes after the procedure. Anticipatory severe pain and severe pain during the procedure of both groups were comparable. Post-procedural severe pain of the study group was significantly lower than control group (p=0.017). The study group had a significant reduction in anxiety scores 15 minutes post-procedure (p=0.036). Severe anxiety did not differ significantly between groups at anticipatory, during procedure, and 15 minutes post-procedure. Conclusion: Lavender essential oil inhalation was effective in reducing pain during and after endometrial sampling, and alleviated anxiety following the procedure.