The Effects of Virtual Reality During Labour on Perceived Pain, Use of Pain Relief and Duration of Labour: A Pilot Matched Case–Control Study in Belgium

Background: Virtual reality has been shown to reduce pain during labour. We aimed to determine whether virtual reality reduces analgesia use and shortens labour duration. Methods: A non-randomised pilot study was conducted, using a matched case–control design (1:2 ratio). Cases were women who voluntarily used virtual reality alongside standard intrapartum pain management, including non-pharmacological methods and/or epidural analgesia. Controls received standard intrapartum pain management. Results: A total of 108 women were included for analysis (36 cases vs. 72 controls). Perceived pain scores before and after virtual reality use did not differ significantly (p = 0.43, p = 0.73), suggesting a limited immediate analgesic effect under current conditions. Epidural analgesia rates and cervical dilation at initiation of analgesia did not show significant differences between cases and controls (p = 0.13, p = 0.42). After adjusting for induction of labour and cervical dilation at admission, there were no significant differences for duration of epidural analgesia (p = 0.86, p = 0.56), duration of labour (p = 0.64, p = 0.55), or vaginal birth (p = 0.23). Adjusted models indicated a non-significant trend toward shorter durations of labour, birth, and epidural exposure for cases. Conclusions: Our pilot study did not reveal a decrease in perceived pain or epidural analgesia use or an effect on duration of labour and vaginal birth.