At-Home Genital Nerve Stimulation for SCI Bowel
Key facts
- Where
- Cleveland, United StatesSee the site
Where in United States
- MetroHealth Center for Rehabilitation ResearchCleveland, United StatesContact: Mayson MooreTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- MetroHealth Medical Center
- Trial code
- NCT06836739
- Record updated
- 3 November 2026
- Original description
The purpose of this study is to test whether electrical stimulation of the skin in the pelvic area (near the genitals) can reduce the reflexes that cause bowel accidents in people with spinal cord injuries. Current bowel treatments either involve diet and medications or surgery. This study will evaluate whether electrical stimulation can be an alternate option for bowel management.Read full original descriptionShow less
At-Home Feasibility Trial of Genital Nerve Stimulation to Modulate Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in Individuals Living With Spinal Cord Injury
The purpose of this study is to test whether electrical stimulation of the skin in the pelvic area (near the genitals) can reduce the reflexes that cause bowel accidents in people with spinal cord injuries. Current bowel treatments either involve diet and medications or surgery. This study will evaluate whether electrical stimulation can be an alternate option for bowel management.
Researchers will:
* Use an FDA approved Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device off-label * Compare a target stimulation level to a placebo stimulation level
Participants will:
* Use electrical stimulation on the skin in the pelvic area for 6-8 hours each day for 4 weeks at home * Visit the research center 3 times to participate in exams and answer questions * Keep a daily diary of their bowel symptoms and stimulation times
Inclusion: Traumatic SCI; Minimum of 6 months' post-injury; Aged 18 years and older; Neurological level of injury T12 or higher and AIS grade A-D, as defined by the ISNCSCI; Score of 14 or higher on the ISCI BF BDS v2.1; Response to genital nerve stimulation able to be elicited upon screening; Able to understand and provide informed consent.
Exclusion: Presence of a cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, or other implanted functional electrical stimulation device if, upon clinical evaluation, it may have an interaction with GNS; Currently enrolled in another functional electrical stimulation (FES) research trial; Females who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the duration of the trial (identified by self-report); In the judgment of the PI and Co-Investigators, presence of medical complications that may interfere with the execution of the study.