GERMAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS - Gynecology 33, Scientific Research, Medical Sciences

Reduction of Pain during Labor in Women with an Initial Inactivity of the Uterus

Already normal labor is accompanied by great physical and emotional stress as well as great pain. This is even more the case when complications come up as with these women with an initial inactivity of the uterus. Seen from the angle of the hormone state the organism is in a state of emergency: to counteract the experience of great pain and severe stress for the mother, the organism produces 8-10 times more opioids as normal, which – next to other effects – function as pain inhibitors.

To find out in how far Medical Resonance Therapy Music^® has a harmonizing effect on pain regulating neuroendocrine functions important opioids of the pain inhibiting system were chosen for investigation: beta-endorphin, corticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol – hormones which show extremely high levels in blood during labor.

Under investigation were three groups:

one group (11 women) was treated with relaxing Medical Resonance Therapy Music^®

control group A (11 women) listened to music of Mozart – Symphony No. 28 and Coronation Mass – and a

control group B (11 women) did not listen to any music at all.

Medical Resonance Therapy Music^® Group

Control Group A

The treatment with the Medical Resonance Therapy Music^® resulted in a significant change of the hormonal situation: the beta-endorphin value dropped by 6.05 units and also ACTH showed a tendency to decrease – the hyperproductive hormone system was calmed and a more balanced state established.

Especially noteworthy is the following situation: although the level of pain inhibiting hormones decreased the women did not experience a raise in pain but on the contrary reported of a clear decrease of pain.
This implies that the pain reduction in the Medical Resonance Therapy Music^® group is based on a complex reduction of pain creating tensions in the muscular system during labor– in other words is based on muscular relaxation and harmonization. And this principle also found its expression in a substantial calming of the fetus during labor (please see corresponding measurements).

The women in this group also reported of a strong reduction of pain through listening to the music of Mozart. And here too a significant change was found in the hormonal situation, but in the opposite direction: the ACTH level increased – the already hyperactive hormone system got even more exaggerated and produced even more of the pain inhibiting hormone – which explains the reduced experience of pain in this group.

Control Group B

Here no significant hormonal changes were observed, only small variations.

Comments to Cortisol

A significant change of cortisol was neither found in the “Mozart group” nor in the Medical Resonance Therapy Music^® group.
To get a reliable picture of the changes in cortisol level probably longer than 30 minute treatment intervals are necessary, since this duration is comparable with half the life span of the hormone in circulation.

Investigators:

Prof. Dr. med. A. Reznikov
Prof. Dr. med. S. Leush
Dr. med. A. Yakovlev

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