Skip to content
Bored Studies
RecruitingAccepts healthy volunteersPhase 4

Self-Adjusted Nitrous Oxide: A Feasibility Study in the Setting of Vasectomy

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NCT05895383

View Study & Apply (opens in a new tab)

Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 21–85 · Men only
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Phase 4
Target enrollment
35
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
May 24, 2023
Record last updated
February 6, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

This study is being done to see if nitrous oxide during vasectomy decreases pain and anxiety, and also assess whether patients have better satisfaction when they control their own level of nitrous oxide during the procedure. If we find that patients experience less pain or anxiety with nitrous oxide, it could be suggested that self-adjusted nitrous oxide (SANO) may be a useful tool for improving experience of care during vasectomy.

Being studied: Nitrous oxide

Conditions: Procedural Pain; Pain Catastrophizing; Procedural Anxiety

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Scheduled for vasectomy
  • Aged 21 to 85 years
  • Suitable for receipt of inhaled nitrous oxide/oxygen
  • Access to an email and computer

Exclusion Criteria

  • Perioral facial hair impeding good mask seal
  • Cognitive impairment that impedes ability to complete survey questions
  • Intent to use benzodiazepines or opioids "as needed" for purposes of vasectomy
  • Has any of the following medical conditions, which contraindicate use of nitrous oxide:
  • Inner ear, bariatric or eye surgery within the last 2 weeks,
  • Current emphysematous blebs,
  • Severe B-12 deficiency,
  • Bleomycin chemotherapy within the past year,
  • Heart attack within the past year,
  • Stroke within the past year,
  • Class III or higher heart failure.

Recruiting US locations

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

    Boston, MA 02215

    Site contact: Peter Healy · phealy1@bidmc.harvard.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Heidi Rayala, MD, PhD · 617-667-3739 · hrayala@bidmc.harvard.edu
  • Michelle Shabo, MD · mshabo@bidmc.harvard.edu
All mental health studies in Massachusetts →
Self-Adjusted Nitrous Oxide: A Feasibility Study in the Setting of… (NCT05895383) | Bored Studies