FlatulenceNCT07125742
Effects of Chewing Gum, Fennel, and Ginger Tea on Intestinal Motility and Comfort After Cesarean
A study testing Chewing gum, Fennel Tea and Ginger Tea in people with Flatulence and Constipation in Postnatal Women, run by Uşak University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of chewing gum, fennel tea, and ginger tea consumption on intestinal motility and postpartum comfort in women following cesarean section. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Flatulence, Constipation in Postnatal Women
- What is being tested?
- Chewing gum, Fennel Tea and Ginger Tea
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 128 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 18 Nov 2024to 16 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- The participant mother's voluntary participation in the study and provision of written and verbal informed consent,
- Having undergone general anesthesia,
- Having at least basic reading and writing skills,
- Being between 38-42 gestational weeks,
- According to the mother's statement and medical records, having no history of asthma, liver disease, cancer, epilepsy, or similar conditions,
- No history of allergies,
- Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.50-24.99 kg/m².
Who cannot join
- The participant mother's unwillingness to continue cooperating in the study,
- Having received spinal anesthesia,
- Being under 18 years of age,
- Being over 45 years of age,
- Inability to chew gum,
- Experiencing nausea or similar side effects during the consumption of fennel or ginger,
- The mother's refusal to consume fennel or ginger tea or to chew gum during the study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Chewing Gum, Fennel Tea, and Ginger Tea Consumption on Intestinal Motility and Postpartum Comfort in Women After Cesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of chewing gum, fennel tea, and ginger tea consumption on intestinal motility and postpartum comfort in women following cesarean section.
The primary research questions to be answered are: Do chewing gum, fennel tea, or ginger tea accelerate the onset of bowel sounds after cesarean section? Do these interventions affect the time to first gas passage, defecation, and feeling of hunger? Are there differences among these interventions in terms of their impact on abdominal distension and postpartum comfort? Researchers will compare the effects of the interventions between three groups: chewing gum, fennel tea, and ginger tea.
Read more
Participants:
Women who underwent cesarean section and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study.
A total of 96 participants were randomly assigned into three groups of 32 each.
Interventions and procedures:
Starting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours:
The chewing gum group was asked to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes at each time point.
The fennel tea group received 2 g of fennel steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes.
The ginger tea group received 2 g of fresh ginger steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes.
Bowel sounds were auscultated before and 60 minutes after each intervention. The time of first gas passage, first defecation, and first feeling of hunger was recorded.
Abdominal distension was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) six times in total (before and 60 minutes after each intervention).
Postpartum Comfort Scale was applied to all participants at the 12th hour post-cesarean.
All data were collected by the researchers. Randomization was supported by a healthcare professional not involved in the study.
Read the detailed description
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chewing gum, fennel tea, and ginger tea consumption on intestinal motility and postpartum comfort in women following cesarean section. Between November 2024 and August 2025, a randomized controlled trial was carried out with 128 women who met the inclusion criteria and had undergone cesarean delivery. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups (chewing gum, fennel tea, ginger tea, and control; n = 32 per group). Interventions were administered at the 6th, 8th, and 10th hours post-cesarean. The chewing gum group was instructed to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes at each time point. In the herbal tea groups, 2 grams of either fennel or fresh ginger were steeped in 150 ml of boiling water for 10 minutes and consumed accordingly.
Bowel sounds were assessed before and 60 minutes after each intervention. Time to first flatus, first defecation, and first feeling of hunger were recorded. Abdominal distension severity was evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) a total of six times-before and after each intervention. At the 12th hour postpartum, the Postpartum Comfort Scale was administered to all participants. Data were collected by the researchers, and randomization was supported by a healthcare professional not involved in the study.
- Conditions
- Flatulence, Constipation in Postnatal Women
- Being tested
- Chewing gum, Fennel Tea, Ginger Tea
- Keywords
- Women, Fennel, Chewing Gum, Ginger, Cesarean
- Medical subject headings
- Flatulence
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Chewing gumOther
The chewing gum group was asked to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes at each time point.
Fennel TeaOther
Fennel Tea: The fennel tea group received 2 g of fennel steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes.
Ginger TeaOther
Ginger Tea: The ginger tea group received 2 g of fresh ginger steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Chewing gum | Experimental | Starting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours: The chewing gum group was asked to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes at each time point. Receives: Other: Chewing gum |
| Fennel Tea | Experimental | Starting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours: fennel tea group received 2 g of fennel steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes. Receives: Other: Fennel Tea |
| Ginger Tea | Experimental | Starting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours: The ginger tea group received 2 g of fresh ginger steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes. Receives: Other: Ginger Tea |
| Control Group | No intervention | No intervention will be applied. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Assessment of postoperative abdominal distension severity following cesarean section using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
In this study, the primary outcome is the determination of the severity of abdominal distension after cesarean section using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). VAS is a subjective tool frequently used in epidemiological and clinical research to measure the intensity of various symptoms, particularly pain. Its validity and reliability have been previously established. The scale used in this study is the simplest vertical form, 10 cm in length. In other words, the number 0 represents "no abdominal distension", while the number 10 indicates "the worst level of abdominal distension." Using this scale, participants were asked to assess the severity of their abdominal distension.
Measured: Postoperative 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th hours
Evaluation of the time to return of postoperative intestinal motility
Postoperative intestinal motility: In all groups, the times to first bowel movement, first flatus, first defecation, and first sensation of hunger after cesarean section were evaluated.
Measured: Postoperative 48 hour
Secondary outcomes (1)
Assessment of the Postnatal Comfort Scale
Postnatal Comfort:The Postpartum Comfort Scale (PCS) was developed by Karakaplan and Yıldız (2010) to assess postpartum comfort and consists of 34 items. The PCS is a 5-point Likert-type scale, with responses ranging from "strongly agree" (5 points) to "strongly disagree" (1 point) for each item.
For positively worded statements, "strongly agree" indicates the highest level of comfort (5 points), whereas for negatively worded statements, it reflects a lower level of comfort (1 point). Accordingly, the total score on the scale can range from 34 to 170, with higher scores indicating greater postpartum comfort.
The scale comprises three subdimensions: physical, psychospiritual, and sociocultural. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the overall PCS is 0.78, indicating acceptable internal consistency (Karakaplan \& Yıldız, 2010).In this study, it was also used to evaluate postpartum comfort.
Measured: Postoperative 12 hour
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Aug 2025
- Study start18 Nov 2024
- Primary completion16 Aug 2025
- Study completion16 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for FlatulenceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 128 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Uşak University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Şeyma Çatalgöl, Uşak University
- Investigators
- Şeyma ÇATALGÖL, Dr, Principal investigator, Uşak University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07125742
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 479-479-26
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 6 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 8 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Chewing Gum, Fennel Tea, and Ginger Tea Consumption on Intestinal Motility and Postpartum Comfort in Women After Cesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07125742
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 479-479-26
- Conditions
- Flatulence, Constipation in Postnatal Women
- Keywords
- Women, Fennel, Chewing Gum, Ginger, Cesarean
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 128 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Uşak UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 18 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 16 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 16 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of chewing gum, fennel tea, and ginger tea consumption on intestinal motility and postpartum comfort in women following cesarean section.
The primary research questions to be answered are: Do chewing gum, fennel tea, or ginger tea accelerate the onset of bowel sounds after cesarean section? Do these interventions affect the time to first gas passage, defecation, and feeling of hunger? Are there differences among these interventions in terms of their impact on abdominal distension and postpartum comfort? Researchers will compare the effects of the interventions between three groups: chewing gum, fennel tea, and ginger tea.
Participants:
Women who underwent cesarean section and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study.
A total of 96 participants were randomly assigned into three groups of 32 each.
Interventions and procedures:
Starting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours:
The chewing gum group was asked to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes at each time point.
The fennel tea group received 2 g of fennel steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes.
The ginger tea group received 2 g of fresh ginger steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes.
Bowel sounds were auscultated before and 60 minutes after each intervention. The time of first gas passage, first defecation, and first feeling of hunger was recorded.
Abdominal distension was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) six times in total (before and 60 minutes after each intervention).
Postpartum Comfort Scale was applied to all participants at the 12th hour post-cesarean.
All data were collected by the researchers. Randomization was supported by a healthcare professional not involved in the study.
Detailed description
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chewing gum, fennel tea, and ginger tea consumption on intestinal motility and postpartum comfort in women following cesarean section. Between November 2024 and August 2025, a randomized controlled trial was carried out with 128 women who met the inclusion criteria and had undergone cesarean delivery. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups (chewing gum, fennel tea, ginger tea, and control; n = 32 per group). Interventions were administered at the 6th, 8th, and 10th hours post-cesarean. The chewing gum group was instructed to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes at each time point. In the herbal tea groups, 2 grams of either fennel or fresh ginger were steeped in 150 ml of boiling water for 10 minutes and consumed accordingly.
Bowel sounds were assessed before and 60 minutes after each intervention. Time to first flatus, first defecation, and first feeling of hunger were recorded. Abdominal distension severity was evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) a total of six times-before and after each intervention. At the 12th hour postpartum, the Postpartum Comfort Scale was administered to all participants. Data were collected by the researchers, and randomization was supported by a healthcare professional not involved in the study.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Chewing gum | Experimental | Other: Chewing gumStarting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours: The chewing gum group was asked to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes at each time point. |
| Fennel Tea | Experimental | Other: Fennel TeaStarting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours: fennel tea group received 2 g of fennel steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes. |
| Ginger Tea | Experimental | Other: Ginger TeaStarting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours: The ginger tea group received 2 g of fresh ginger steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –No intervention will be applied. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- The participant mother's voluntary participation in the study and provision of written and verbal informed consent,
- Having undergone general anesthesia,
- Having at least basic reading and writing skills,
- Being between 38-42 gestational weeks,
- According to the mother's statement and medical records, having no history of asthma, liver disease, cancer, epilepsy, or similar conditions,
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- The participant mother's unwillingness to continue cooperating in the study,
- Having received spinal anesthesia,
- Being under 18 years of age,
- Being over 45 years of age,
- Inability to chew gum,
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Chewing gumThe chewing gum group was asked to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes at each time point. | Other | Chewing gum |
| Fennel TeaFennel Tea: The fennel tea group received 2 g of fennel steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes. | Other | Fennel Tea |
| Ginger TeaGinger Tea: The ginger tea group received 2 g of fresh ginger steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes. | Other | Ginger Tea |
Primary outcome
Assessment of postoperative abdominal distension severity following cesarean section using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time frame: Postoperative 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th hours
In this study, the primary outcome is the determination of the severity of abdominal distension after cesarean section using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). VAS is a subjective tool frequently used in epidemiological and clinical research to measure the intensity of various symptoms, particularly pain. Its validity and reliability have been previously established. The scale used in this study is the simplest vertical form, 10 cm in length. In other words, the number 0 represents "no abdominal distension", while the number 10 indicates "the worst level of abdominal distension." Using this scale, participants were asked to assess the severity of their abdominal distension.
Evaluation of the time to return of postoperative intestinal motility
Time frame: Postoperative 48 hour
Postoperative intestinal motility: In all groups, the times to first bowel movement, first flatus, first defecation, and first sensation of hunger after cesarean section were evaluated.
1 secondary outcome
Assessment of the Postnatal Comfort Scale
Time frame: Postoperative 12 hour
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Sep 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Şeyma ÇATALGÖL, Dr principal investigator
Uşak University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Chewing gum, Fennel Tea and Ginger Tea in people with Flatulence and Constipation in Postnatal Women, run by Uşak University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Assessment of postoperative abdominal distension severity following cesarean section using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (time frame: Postoperative 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th hours). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Sep 2025.