Effects of Mint-Flavored Chewing Gum on Childbirth

NCT07801196 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2025-12
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 106
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the effect of chewing mint-flavored gum during childbirth on labor pain and anxiety levels. Chewing mint-flavored gum is a non-pharmacological method used during childbirth, and it is believed that it can help women cope with pain and anxiety during childbirth.

Conditions

Labor Pain and Anxiety

Keywords

chewing mint gum; labor pain; anxiety; labor; primiparous pregnant women

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The Angle Labor Pain Scale

  The Angle Labor Pain Scale (A-LPQ) was developed by Angle et al. to assess the pain experienced by women during labor. The scale consists of 22 items, each scored from 0 to 10. The total score ranges from 0 to 220, with higher scores indicating greater perceived labor pain.

  During active labor, when cervical dilation reaches 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-9 cm.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• State Anxiety Scale

  During active labor, when cervical dilation reaches 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-9 cm.

Study Arms (2)

control group

SHAM COMPARATOR

Pregnant women in the control group received routine midwifery care during childbirth and did not receive the mint gum chewing intervention.

Other: Routine midwifery care

min chewing gum group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

participants in this group received mint chewing gum during labor according to the study protocol

Other: Mint Chewing Gum During Labor

Interventions

Routine midwifery care OTHER

Only midwifery services were provided to pregnant women in the control group.

control group

Mint Chewing Gum During Labor OTHER

Participants in the intervention group chewed mint-flavored sugar-free gum for at least 20 minutes during childbirth. The intervention was performed in 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm and 8-9 cm cervical dilatations. Pain and anxiety levels were evaluated at each stage.

min chewing gum group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: The study was conducted on pregnant women who were about to give birth for the first time.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• being over the age of 18 and primiparous, There is no risk for vaginal birth, Without communication problems, Pregnant women without systemic or chronic diseases, Pregnant women with cervical dilatation of 4 cm or more, 37. The pregnancy is at term and a singleton pregnancy. Pregnant women who can chew gum without a history of dental, maxillofacial surgery, or dental disease will be included in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnant women who do not like chewing gum, Pregnant women with mental and auditory health problems, Pregnant women with mint allergies, Pregnant women with dental or jaw problems, High-risk pregnancies will not be included in the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uskudar University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Uskudar University Faculty of Health Sciences

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Ebrahimian A, Bilandi RR, Bilandi MRR, Sabzeh Z. Comparison of the effectiveness of virtual reality and chewing mint gum on labor pain and anxiety: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Jan 19;22(1):49. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-04359-3.

  PMID: 35045813 RESULT

• Mohsenzadeh-Ledari F, Omidvar S, Ghanbarpour A, Behmanesh F, Gholinia Ahangar H. The Effect of Chewing Gum in Managing Labor Pain Intensity and Anxiety Level in Primiparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Community Based Nurs Midwifery. 2025 Apr 1;13(2):103-112. doi: 10.30476/ijcbnm.2025.102876.2515. eCollection 2025 Apr.

  PMID: 40322058 RESULT

Related Links

• Doğum Ağrısı Ölçeği

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Labor Pain; Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan, associate professor doctor

  Uskudar University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• eylem gezer, specialist midwife

  Mazıdağı State Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: associate professor doctor

Model Details: The researcher will provide the gumdrops to be used in the intervention group. For each pregnant woman in the intervention group, the specified amount of mint-flavored sugar-free gum will be used according to the established protocol. Pregnant women in the intervention group will be asked to chew gum during the cervical dilation stages(5-6 cm, 6-7 cm and 8-9 cm) determined during the active phase of labor. The gum chewing process will be monitored through the Gum Chewing Monitoring Form, and information regarding the application will be recorded in the form. At the same time, the birth process will be monitored through routine midwifery care provided by the researcher midwife throughout the progression of labor. Details of the gum chewing application and information regarding the application process will be recorded.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 28, 2026
• First Posted: September 3, 2026
• Study Start: October 9, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 24, 2026
• Study Completion: February 24, 2026
• Last Updated: September 3, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: The work began on October 9, 2025 and ended on February 24, 2026.
• Access Criteria: The study can be accessed by entering Yöktez and typing the name of the study or the names of the administrators.

Locations

TU (1)