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Journal of Education, Health and Sport

The non-pharmacological treatment of primary dysmenorrhea - efficiency and safety
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The non-pharmacological treatment of primary dysmenorrhea - efficiency and safety

Authors

  • Brygida Zapała Szpital Praski p.w. Przemienienia Pańskiego, Aleja Solidarności 67, 03-401 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1579-5697
  • Aldona Ząber Wojskowy Instytut Medyczny Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, ul. Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3577-3203
  • Ewa Gacoń Szpital Praski p.w. Przemieniania Pańskiego. Aleja Solidarności 67, 03-401 Warszawa https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8080-2655
  • Julita Zembala Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne Warszawskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego, Ul. Lindleya 4, 02-005 Warszawa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5709-5691
  • Nikola Siekierko Szpital Praski p.w. Przemienienia Pańskiego, Aleja Solidarności 67, 03-401 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1113-7112
  • Jakub Kucharski Szpital Praski p.w. Przemienienia Pańskiego, Aleja Solidarności 67, 03-401 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2517-7243
  • Maja Żołnierek Maja Żołnierek Maja Żołnierek Samodzielny Publiczny Specjalistyczny Szpital Zachodni im. Św. Jana Pawła II, ul. Daleka 11, 05-825 Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9030-7505
  • Wiktoria Kotusiewicz Wojskowy Instytut Medyczny- Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, ul. Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4033-0648
  • Mateusz Mirosław Lewandowski Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne Warszawskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego, Ul. Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warszawa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4968-1770

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2023.30.01.007

Keywords

primary dysmenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, TENS, acupuncture, Yoga

Abstract

Primary dysmenorrhea  is the most common, though often underdiagnosed, gynecological disorder of women of reproductive age. The disease presents with painful abdominal cramps associated with menstrual bleeding in the absence of pelvic abnormalities. Symptoms are caused primarily by increased levels of prostaglandins produced by the endometrium, which provides hypercontraction of the uterine muscles, ischemia, and pain.  Dysmenorrhea is usually treated pharmacologically with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or hormonal contraception. In particularly severe cases, surgical treatment is also possible. Nonetheless, an increasing amount of studies on non-pharmacological treatments have been published recently. Methods like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), acupuncture, continuous topical heat, or exercise and yoga seem to be effective in reducing the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea. All have an anti-inflammatory effect by lowering prostaglandin levels, but they also contribute to reducing symptoms through other mechanisms. TENS elevates the pain threshold and, together with acupuncture, causes the release of endogenous opioids. Heat, yoga, and acupuncture also lead to increased blood flow in the uterus, reducing hypoxia. Their additional advantage is the low cost and ease of self-use, except for acupuncture, depending on the patient's needs. Side effects of non-pharmacological treatments are usually mild and rarely reported.

References

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Elizabeth Ferries-Rowe, Elizabeth Corey, Johanna S Archer. Primary Dysmenorrhea: Diagnosis and Therapy. Obstet Gynecol. 2020; 136(5):1047-1058. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004096

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Arik MI, Kiloatar H, Aslan B, Icelli M. The effect of TENS for pain relief in women with primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Explore (NY). 2022; 18(1):108-113. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2020.08.005.

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Proctor M, Farquhar C, Stones W, He L, Zhu X, Brown J. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;1:CD002123.

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Yu WY, Ma LX, Zhang Z, Mu JD, Sun TY, Tian Y, Qian X, Zhang YD. Acupuncture for Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Potential Mechanism from an Anti-Inflammatory Perspective. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Dec 3;2021:1907009. doi: 10.1155/2021/1907009.

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Liu W, Wang CC, Lee KH, Ma X, Kang TL. Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture and or Moxibustion for Managing Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin Nurs Res. 2022 Sep;31(7):1362-1375. doi: 10.1177/10547738221086984.

Jo J, Lee SH. Heat therapy for primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of its effects on pain relief and quality of life. Sci Rep 2018 Nov 2;8(1):16252. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34303-z.

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Published

2023-05-15

How to Cite

1.
ZAPAŁA, Brygida, ZĄBER, Aldona, GACOŃ, Ewa, ZEMBALA, Julita, SIEKIERKO, Nikola, KUCHARSKI, Jakub, ŻOŁNIEREK, Maja, KOTUSIEWICZ, Wiktoria and LEWANDOWSKI, Mateusz Mirosław. The non-pharmacological treatment of primary dysmenorrhea - efficiency and safety. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. Online. 15 May 2023. Vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 79-86. [Accessed 4 July 2025]. DOI 10.12775/JEHS.2023.30.01.007.
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Issue

Vol. 30 No. 1 (2023)

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Review Articles

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Copyright (c) 2023 Brygida Zapała, Aldona Ząber, Ewa Gacoń, Julita Zembala, Nikola Siekierko, Jakub Kucharski, Maja Żołnierek, Wiktoria Kotusiewicz, Mateusz Mirosław Lewandowski

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

The periodical offers access to content in the Open Access system under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

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