Fifteen-second skin icing using a frozen gel pack is effective for reducing goserelin injection pain

The efficacy of skin icing to reduce the pain of goserelin injection has been reported. We investigated the optimal icing time with a frozen gel pack and its effectiveness.

Abdominal skin temperatures of 49 healthy volunteers were measured after application of the frozen gel pack for 10, 15 and 30 s, and it was decided that a 15-second icing was adequate. For 55 consecutive patients who received goserelin (10.8 mg) injection, pain was evaluated employing a visual analog scale (VAS). The first injection was administered routinely. A second injection was administered after skin icing in 27 of 55 patients who wanted to try icing. At the time of the third injection, all patient decided whether they were to receive icing or the routine method.

After icing, VAS scores decreased in 20 of 27 patients. At the third injection, 18 patients requested icing.

When a patient complains of injection pain, the icing method should be considered for pain reduction.