Virtual Reality Analgesia for Post Laparoscopic Pain

Laparoscopy — keyhole surgery in the abdomen — is one of the most commonly performed gynaecological procedures. Despite being minimally invasive, post-operative pain is a significant problem, with studies showing up to 65% of women experience significant pain afterwards, requiring pain medications that can have unwanted side effects. This study is exploring whether virtual reality (VR) technology can provide meaningful pain relief after gynaecological laparoscopy. VR works by immersing users in a simulated environment, and research suggests it can reduce the perception of pain by redirecting attention and possibly triggering neurophysiological changes. Participants will be randomised to receive either VR analgesia or standard pain management following laparoscopy, and pain scores and analgesic use will be compared. You may be eligible if you are a woman aged 18 or older undergoing laparoscopy for any gynaecological reason and have sufficient English comprehension. Women with a history of sensitivity to VR, motion sickness, vertigo, seizures, epilepsy, pregnancy, or intellectual impairment are not eligible. If successful, VR-based pain management offers a drug-free, non-invasive complement to standard analgesia that could reduce medication side effects and improve the recovery experience for the large number of women who undergo this procedure each year.