Labour pain simulation: Man loses part of small intestine; are pain simulators dangerous?

A young man in the Chinese province of Henan has reportedly lost a part of his small intestine after his girlfriend decided to listen to her mother’s advice that a man should go through the pain of childbirth and only then would he truly love her. The man apparently objected initially but later agreed to go with it. The woman took him to a labour simulation centre to experience the pain that she might go through in the future. Low voltage electric impulses are delivered to the nerves and muscles through electrodes attached to the skin to ‘create’ labour pain.
The intensity of the pain or the impulses would be raised in stages. The man started feeling uneasy when the intensity of the pain reached the eighth level. He began screaming and struggling when they turned it up to the tenth level. He said that he was feeling severe pain in the abdomen and began vomiting. He began screaming with pain, but was put through three hours of intense labour pain. It’s not clear whether he left the centre with more love for his partner or not, but a week later, he was admitted to the hospital with severe abdominal pain. What was the reason?

Effect of the simulator
The doctors discovered that a part of his small intestine had been damaged. Meanwhile, the woman stated that her intention was not to hurt her boyfriend. She said that she was only listening to her mother and sister’s advice that her lover should also experience the pain that she would go through in the future. She also took full responsibility for the difficulties faced by her partner. The incident has stirred controversy in China, with people demanding strict action against the woman and her family.

Are pain simulators dangerous?
A few years ago, Kerala’s Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden was seen trying a hand at a period pain simulator as part of a menstrual hygiene campaign. Similarly, we often see social media reels and videos of men trying a hand at experiencing period and labour pain simulators, and often writhing with pain. The simulation is done with TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) machines, which mimic the discomfort during periods of childbirth. However, how safe are these devices?

According to various experts, these machines are generally safe when used appropriately with the help of knowledgeable technicians. However, for people with pre-existing conditions like heart issues, epilepsy, or similar diseases, using it can be risky. You can consult a doctor before using it to ensure the machine or its pads won’t affect you adversely. It’s better to experience such machines for 30 minutes, and you should stop if you feel extreme discomfort or dizziness. Moreover, never try it while sleeping or driving.