ACOG Conference Coverage

Virtual Reality Shows Promise in Reducing Pain, Anxiety in OBGYN Procedures

Anthony Calabro, MA

Key Highlights

  • 78% of studies examining virtual reality (VR) for pain in obstetrics and gynecology reported significant reductions in pain.
  • 71% of studies assessing anxiety outcomes found significant reductions with VR use.
  • Labor was the most frequently studied setting, followed by hysteroscopy.
  • Findings support broader investigation of VR in underexplored OBGYN procedures.

Virtual reality (VR) is emerging as an effective adjunct for managing pain and anxiety in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN), according to the results of a recent systematic review presented at the 2025 ACOG Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting in Minneapolis, MN. In the systematic review of 34 studies, the majority demonstrated statistically significant reductions in both pain and anxiety with the use of VR compared with standard care. Most studies focused on labor and procedural settings, indicating that VR may serve as a valuable nonpharmacologic tool across diverse OBGYN care contexts.

Pain and anxiety are frequently reported during labor and routine gynecologic procedures, often leading to reliance on pharmacologic interventions. A gap exists for noninvasive alternatives that reduce patient distress and improve the care experience for this patient population. VR has shown promise in other fields of medicine and is now being explored in OBGYN settings.

To better understand the application of VR in OBGYN care, researchers conducted a systematic literature search across five databases—PubMed, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus—for studies published between 2013 and 2024. Studies included were those evaluating VR’s effect on pain or anxiety during labor or procedural care. The methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tools.

Among the 34 included studies, labor accounted for 35% of all VR interventions studied, followed by hysteroscopy at 18%. Additional areas included hysterosalpingography, intrauterine device placement, and episiotomy repair. Of the studies assessing pain, 78% reported statistically significant reductions in pain with VR compared to controls. Similarly, 71% of studies evaluating anxiety found significant improvements with VR interventions.

Despite encouraging results, the authors noted that data remain limited in several procedural areas.

“VR has a valuable place in OBGYN, with reduction in pain and anxiety documented with use in labor and several procedural settings,” the authors concluded. “Further research is needed to define the most effective VR applications and to identify the patient populations that benefit most.”

Reference
Khurana S, Rauf M, Tyson AN. Virtual Reality Use in Obstetrics and Gynecologic Settings for Reducing Pain and Anxiety: A Systematic Review. Obstet Gynecol. 2025;145(Supp 6):1-102.