| Kim, Jo e Hwang1111 Kim JS, Jo YJ, Hwang SK. The effects of abdominal meridian massage on menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea in full-time employed women. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2005;35(7):1325-32.
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Case controlled. 85 women (42 experimental and 43 control) |
To examine the effects of massage in the abdominal meridian (Kyongrak) on dysmenorrhea. |
Menstrual cramps symptoms in the experimental group were significantly lower after abdominal meridian massage as compared to control group (p<0.001) |
Massage on abdominal meridian (Kyongrak) was effective to relieve menstrual cramps. It is suggested that the technique might be an alternative to treat dysmenorrhea. |
| Schiøtz, Jettestad & Al-Heeti1212 Schiøtz HA, Jettestad M, Al-Heeti D. Treatment of dysmenorrhoea with a new TENS device (OVA). J Obstet Gynaecol. 2007;27(7):726-8.
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Prospective. 21 women |
To observe the effects of high frequency TENS on dysmenorrhea. |
There has been decrease in mean pain score in women treated with TENS (p=0.0009). Simultaneous use of analgesic tablets was also significantly decreased (p=0.03) and 7 women stopped using analgesics during the use of the device (p=0.02). There have been no adverse effects. After 6 to 8 months, 14 women were regularly using the device. |
TENS is an alternative to treat dysmenorrhea. |
| Tugay et al.1313 Tugay N, Akbayrak T, Demirtürk F, Karakaya IC, Kocaacar O, Tugay U, et al. Effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential current in primary dysmenorrhea. Pain Med. 2007;8(4):295-300.
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Prospective, randomized, controlled. 34 women |
To compare the effectiveness of TENS and interferential current on PD soon after application, 8 and 24 hours later. |
Intensity of evaluated parameters (menstrual pain, referred pain in lower limbs and low back pain) were decreased soon after applications in both groups (TENS and interferential) (p<0.05). One may say that there has been no superiority between methods (p>0.05) |
Both TENS and interferential current seem to be effective to treat PD. |
| Guo & Meng1414 Guo A, Meng Q. Acupuncture combined with spinal tui na for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in 30 cases. J Tradit Chin Med. 2008;28(1):7-9.
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Case controlled. 60 women divided in 30 control group and 30 treatment. |
To observe therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with Tuina (TUI-NA) on PD symptoms. |
From 30 treatment group cases, 17 were cured, 11 have improved and 2 have failed, with total effective rate of 93.3%. From 30 control group cases, 9 were cured, 13 have improved and 8 have failed, with total effective rate of 73.3%. Comparison of both groups total effective rate has shown significant difference (x2=4.32, p<0.05), suggesting that therapeutic effect on treatment group was superior as compared to control group. |
Acupuncture combined with Tuina (TUI-NA) has good perspectives to treat PB. |
| Witt et al.1515 Witt CL, Reinhold T, Brinkhaus B, Roll S, Jena S, Willich SN. Acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrhea: a randomized study on clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in usual care. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008;198(2):166.e1-166.e8.
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Randomized, clinical trial plus nonrandomized cohort. 649 women being 201 randomized. |
To investigate clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness rate of acupuncture in dysmenorrhea patients. |
Three months later, mean pain intensity was lower with acupuncture as compared to control group. Acupuncture group had better QL and higher cost. |
Acupuncture in dysmenorrhea patients was associated to better QL as compared to control group. |
| Araujo, Leitao & Ventura1616 Araújo IM, Leitão TC, Ventura PL. Estudo comparativo da eficiência do calor e frio no tratamento da dismenorreia primária. Rev Dor. 2010;11(3):218-21.
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Transversal. 20 women |
To compare cryotherapy and thermotherapy to control PD pain. |
Pain intensity was significantly lower in the group treated with cryotherapy. Patients submitted to treatment with cold had higher satisfaction as compared to those treated with heat. |
In PD patients, cryotherapy was more effective than heat to decrease pain intensity. |
| Bazarganipour et al.1717 Bazarganipour F, Lamyian M, Heshmat R, Abadi MA, Taghavi A. A randomized clinical trial of the efficacy of applying a simple acupressure protocol to the Taichong point in relieving dysmenorrhea. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2010;111(2):105-9.
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Double blind, randomized. 194 women |
To examine whether the application of a simple acupuncture protocol to the Taichong point is effective to relieve dysmenorrhea pain. |
The difference in dysmenorrhea severity between groups was not significant in the first cycle, but was significant in the fourth cycle (U=2377.00, p<0.001), and it has significantly decreased in the study group (p<0.05). |
The application of a simple pressure protocol for acupoint Taichong is an effective and low cost way to decrease intensity of dysmenorrhea symptoms. |
| Lin et al.1818 Lin JA, Wong CS, Lee MS, Ko SC, Chan SM, Chen JJ, Chen TL. Successful treatment of primary dysmenorrhea by collateral meridian acupressure therapy. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2010;33(1):70-5.
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Case report. 1 woman |
Describes the observation of painful dysmenorrhea and its associated symptoms relief in a PD patient after treatment with CMAT. |
CMAT was performed once in the second day of the first (partial treatment) and fourth menstrual cycle (complete treatment). Pain was immediately resolved after partial CMAT treatment during the first menstrual cycle, but has reappeared 20 minutes later. Satisfactory results were obtained during the fourth menstrual cycle after complete CMAT treatment, which was also forwarded to the next session (fifth menstrual period). However, dysmenorrhea symptoms have recurred 2 months after treatment (sixth menstrual period). |
This case report indicates that CMAT treatment may be effective to relieve dysmenorrhea-associated symptoms. The transition effect could suggest that there is potential to produce a long-lasting effect for dysmenorrhea. |
| Reis, Hardy & Sousa1919 Reis CA, Hardy E, Sousa MH. Efetividade da massagem do tecido conjuntivo no tratamento da dismenorréia primária em mulheres jovens. Rev Bras Saude Mater Infant. 2010;10(2):247-56.
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Pilot, observational and cohort study. 75 women. |
To evaluate the effects of connective tissue massage as therapeutic non-pharmacological proposal for PD. |
Pain score has significantly decreased after the first month of treatment. Percentage of volunteers needing painkillers and reporting systemic symptoms has decreased along treatment, but there has been no correlation between the number of massages and pain scores in the multivariate analysis. |
Connective tissue massage may decrease menstrual pain, but the type of study does not allow ruling out placebo effect. Results justify a randomized clinical trial to confirm or not such effect. |
| Yu et al.2020 Yu YP, Ma LX, Ma YX, Ma YX, Liu YQ, Liu CZ, et al. Immediate effect of acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Xuanzhong (GB39) on uterine arterial blood flow in primary dysmenorrhea. J Altern Complement Med. 2010;16(10):1073-8.
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Clinical, prospective and randomized. 60 patients. |
To compare immediate effect of acupuncture of Sanyinjiao point (SP6) on blood flow of the uterine artery in PD to the Xuanzhong point (GB39). |
There have been significant decrease in menstrual pain scores, pulsatility index, resistance index and systolic and diastolic peak ratio in the SP6 treatment group five minutes after treatment. As compared to control group GB39, SP6 treatment group patients had significant decrease in changes in menstrual pain scores, pulsatility index, resistance index and systolic and diastolic peak ratio five minutes after treatment. There have been no significant changes in menstrual pain scores, pulsatility index, resistance index and systolic and diastolic peak ratio before and after treatment in the GB39 control group (p>0.05). |
This study suggests that needling at SP6 may immediately improve uterine arterial blood flow in PD patients, while GB39 does not have such effects. |
| Liu et al.2121 Liu CZ, Xie JP, Wang LP, Zheng YY, Ma ZB, Yang H, et al. Immediate analgesia effect of single point acupuncture in primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial. Pain Med. 2011;12(2):300-7.
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Randomized study. 194 women with PD |
To evaluate the effectiveness of a single acupuncture point to treat PD as compared to placebo acupuncture and no acupuncture. Acupoint group (n=50), unrelated acupoint group (n=50), placebo group (n=46), no acupuncture group (n=48). |
Primary outcome, primary VAS scores comparison with regard to treatment used has shown that patients receiving acupuncture, those of unrelated acupoint group and of the placebo group have shown significant improvements as compared to the group receiving no acupuncture. There have been no significant differences among four groups with regard to secondary outcomes. |
Acupuncture was beneficial to relieve dysmenorrhea pain as compared to the group with no acupuncture; however, and significantly, there have been no differences among acupoint group, unrelated acupoint group and placebo group. |
| Mirbagher-Ajorpaz, Adib-Hajbaghery & Mosaebi2222 Mirbagher-Ajorpaz N, Adib-Hajbaghery M, Mosaebi F. The effects of acupressure on primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011;17(1):33-6.
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Controlled, randomized. 30 young students |
To evaluate the effect of acupressure on SP6 point on PD. |
Acupressure was applied to point SP6 in the treatment group and a mild touch at acupoint SP6 was applied to control group. There have been significant differences in dysmenorrhea scores between groups immediately after and also 3 hours after treatment. |
Acupressure on meridian SP6 might be a non-invasive nursing intervention to relieve PD and its effects last for 3 hours after treatment. |
| Araujo et al.2323 Araújo LM, Silva JM, Bastos WT, Ventura PL. Diminuição da dor em mulheres com dismenorreia primária, tratadas pelo método Pilates. Rev Dor. 2012;13(2):119-23.
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Descriptive, experimental, with longitudinal characteristic and quantitative approach. 10 women. |
To compare pain in PD women before and after being submitted to the Pilates method. |
Menstrual pain before treatment was 7.89±1.96 and after treatment 2.56±0.56 with p<0.001, showing significant difference before and after Pilates method treatment. In evaluating pain with McGill Pain questionnaire, there has been significant decrease in all components when comparing values before and after treatment: sensory (p<0.001), affective (p<0.05), evaluative (p<0.001) and miscellaneous (p<0.001). |
Pilates method as physical activity practice has improved PD-associated symptoms, decreasing patients' pain, and might be a promising non-pharmacological alternative. |
| Nascimento2424 Nascimento MS. Efeito terapêutico da dança do ventre em mulheres com queixas sugestivas de dismenorreia primária. Nova Fisio. 2012;15(87).
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Descriptive, quasi-experimental with quantitative approach. 8 beginner belly dance learners. |
To evaluate therapeutic effect of belly dance in women with complaints suggestive of PD. |
With regard to PD complaints, VAS has recorded significant decrease. At the end of the fifth evaluation, it was observed that belly dance has therapeutic effect to decrease PD complaints. |
Belly dance had positive effects on decreasing menstrual cramps, being a non-pharmacological option for these women. |
| Yeh et al.2525 Yeh ML, Hung YL, Chen HH, Wang YJ. Auricular acupressure for pain relief in adolescents with dysmenorrhea: a placebo-controlled study. J Altern Complement Med. 2013;19(4):313-8.
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Simple, blind, placebo controlled. 113 participants |
To evaluate the effects of auricular acupuncture on menstrual pain and distress on teenagers with dysmenorrhea. |
Differences between groups were found in VAS and MDQ after interventions. Differences within group were found in changes of VAS, SF-MPQ and MDQ scores during interventions for both groups. |
Auricular acupuncture relieves teenagers' menstrual pain and distress and may be a basis for the use of auricular acupuncture to treat dysmenorrhea. There has been pain decrease with placebo as well as with the real acupuncture point, but the latter was significantly better. Placebo acupuncture point cannot be used as control for auricular acupuncture point and for qualitative evaluation of dysmenorrhea. |
