Assessing comparison the effect of cooling gel pads and topical olive oil on the intensity of episiotomy pain in primiparous women

The perineal pain resulting from episiotomy is a stressful factor in primiparous women which interferes with their ability of nursing and doing their duties as a mother. Cold therapy is a topical treatment which is effective in relieving inflammation and wound healing. Olive oil also increase the rate of wound healing. The present study has been conducted to evaluate and compare the effect cooling gel pads and topical olive oil on the intensity of episiotomy pain and wound healing in primiparous women referring to hospitals affiliated with the Gilan University of Medical Sciences in 2014. This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 90 primiparous women who referred to hospitals affiliated with the Gilan University of Medical Sciences. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups: those receiving cooling gel pads (for 20 minutes 12 hours after labor and in case necessary, for 10 days) and the topical olive oil (2 times a day, 12 hours after delivery and for 10 days). The two groups were evaluated interms of episiotomy pain intensity through visual analogue scale (VAS) and analgesics usage for 3 times: the 12 hours, 5th and 10th day after episiotomy. The two groups did not show any significant differences in demographic features and other intervening variables. There was a statistically significant difference in the intensity of perineal pain in two groups at 12 hours (p=0.04) and on the day 5 after episiotomy (p= 0.03). Using olive oil can reduce the pain of episiotomy be recommended in primiparous women. Futher studies are required to elucidate the antinociceptive effects of olive oil.