Management Of Menstrual Pain Research Articles

Understanding Adolescents' Experiences With Menstrual Pain to Inform the User-Centered Design of a Mindfulness-Based App: Mixed Methods Investigation Study.

Digital interventions are increasingly popular for the provision of nonpharmacological pain interventions, but few exist for adolescents with menstrual pain. User-centered design involves incorporating users across phases of digital health intervention design, development, and implementation and leads to improved user engagement and outcomes. A needs assessment is the first step of this approach. The goal of this study was to conduct a needs assessment to understand menstrual pain management needs and preferences and mindfulness experiences, preferences, and knowledge of adolescents with menstrual pain to inform the future development of an app for managing menstrual pain. We used an explanatory sequential mixed method design that included a survey followed by focus groups. Adolescents aged 13-17 years completed a survey (n=111) and participated in focus groups (n=16). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis and synthesized to provide specific recommendations based on adolescent responses. Adolescents (n=111) who completed the survey reported a moderate understanding of mindfulness and menstrual pain. Over three-quarters (n=87, 78%) of participants practiced some form of mindfulness and 87% (n=97) of survey participants used nonpharmacological pain management strategies. Teens had a moderate perception that mindfulness could help their menstrual pain (mean 4.51/10, SD 2.45, with higher scores suggesting more interest). Themes were generated related to mindfulness experiences, menstrual pain knowledge and experiences, and app functionality. These themes underscored adolescents' need for continued support and flexible access to mindfulness activities; their awareness of multiple influences to pain, with potential for further education in this area; and the need for menstrual pain-specific content, along with content relevant to typical day-to-day experiences of adolescents. Adolescents with menstrual pain have an interest in using a mindfulness app for pain but have unique needs that need to be addressed to ensure app engagement and relevance for this population. Concrete recommendations for future app development are provided.

Patterns of menstrual cycle, menstrual pain and medication usage in young women from high- and middle-income countries

Do patterns of the menstrual cycle, menstrual pain and the use of medication for menstrual pain differ between young women from high-income countries (HIC) and middle-income countries (MIC)? A multinational, multicentre, cross-sectional study using pen-and-paper questionnaires was conducted between 2016 and 2021 to assess patterns of the menstrual cycle, menstrual pain and the use of medication for menstrual pain. Various parameters were evaluated to identify high-risk factors for severe menstrual pain in women from two HIC (n = 1550) and nine MIC (n = 7139). From a total of 9114 young women, 4920 medical students (HIC n = 696, MIC n = 4224) and 3769 nursing students (HIC n = 854, MIC n = 2915) were included in this study. Compared with those from HIC, a significantly higher proportion of medical and nursing students from MIC reported cyclic pain (83.9% and 86.8%, respectively) and acyclic pain (33.8% and 31.9%, respectively) (both P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that low body mass index and early onset of menarche were independent risk factors for severe cyclic/acyclic pain among women from HIC, and a family history of menstrual pain was a risk factor for severe cyclic/acyclic pain among women from HIC and MIC. Differential patterns of the menstrual cycle, menstrual pain and use of medication for menstrual pain were found between young women from HIC and MIC. A proper educational programme may be necessary for these women and healthcare providers to understand the consequences of intractable cyclic/acyclic pain, in order to facilitate early detection and timely management of menstrual pain and its negative consequences, such as endometriosis.

Empowering Women: Pilates as a Holistic Approach to Alleviate Dysmenorrhea Symptoms: A Systemic Review

Introduction: Dysmenorrhea, characterised by painful menstrual cramps, is a prevalent condition affecting a significant portion of the female population worldwide. Despite its common occurrence, the management of dysmenorrhea often remains inadequate, with reliance on pharmacological interventions that may offer temporary relief but come with potential side effects and long-term consequences. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of pilates as a holistic approach to alleviate dysmenorrhea symptoms, with the goal of empowering women in managing their menstrual health more effectively. Materials and Methods: The study’s literature review spanned several databases—PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar—complemented by manual reference list searches. The search strategy incorporated keywords such as “Pilates,” “dysmenorrhea,” “menstrual pain management,” and “nonpharmacological interventions for dysmenorrhea.” This approach yielded 98 articles, from which six full-text available articles, published from 2014 to January 2024, were selected for their insights into the pilates-dysmenorrhea nexus. This research engaged women diagnosed with dysmenorrhea, with pre- and post-intervention assessments measuring pain levels and physical function using standardised tools. Results: Preliminary outcomes indicate a marked reduction in menstrual pain and an enhancement in physical function among participants undertaking pilates exercises, compared to those in the control group. Conclusion: Pilates exercises offer a holistic and comprehensive management strategy for dysmenorrhea, addressing both its physical and psychological dimensions. The study affirms pilates as an effective, non invasive way to ease dysmenorrhea symptoms.

A Survey of Current Exercise and Nutritional Strategies for Management of Dysmenorrhea

This study characterized exercise and nutritional strategies being used by women to manage dysmenorrhea. Women with self-reported menstrual pain (N = 182; age, 31.7 ± 8.9 years; 73% premenopausal; 44% contraceptive users; 66% White; 70% non-Hispanic) completed a web-based survey about the presence and severity of menstrual pain, pain management strategies (exercise, medications, nutrition, others), and perceived challenges to using nutrition for pain management. Menstrual pain was reported to be greatest on Day 1 of menstruation (mean: 6.6/10) and was “sometimes” (36%) or “often” (31%) disruptive to exercise. For exercise as a strategy to manage pain, 31% reported improvements, 23% reported no change, and 11% reported worsening of pain. A majority of women reported using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (71%) or other medications to manage pain (sometimes, 25%; often, 21%; always, 25%). Almost half of women (47%) reported using some other method to manage pain (sometimes, 22%; often, 15%; always, 10%), most often heat. Less women (18%) reported using dietary or herbal supplements (sometimes, 7%; often, 7%; always, 4%) or dietary changes (sometimes, 7%; often, 5%; always, 5%). The most common reasons for not using nutrition to manage menstrual pain included not knowing what to buy or what to try, had never tried, and being unsure about supplements. The level of pain women experience with dysmenorrhea is significant and disruptive to exercise participation. However, few women report using nutritional strategies due to being unsure of what to buy or try. Quality studies targeting nutritional menstrual pain management strategies are needed.

Mapping the Expertise and Understanding of Menarche, Menstrual Hygiene, and Menstrual Health among Adolescent Ladies in Low- and Center-Profit Nations

Mapping the Expertise and Understanding of Menarche, Menstrual Hygiene, and Menstrual Health among Adolescent Ladies in Low- and Center-Profit Nations

Influence of Menstrual Hygiene Management Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices and School Attendance among Girls in Public Primary Schools in Kisumu West Sub-County, Kisumu County, Kenya

School based comprehensive sexuality education that addresses Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) knowledge practices – including hygiene practices and management of menstrual pain may be an avenue for addressing both poor MHM practices and absenteeism, if they are locally adapted and practiced. Inadequate knowledge, lack of access to quality sanitary materials, cultural beliefs and taboos around menstruation and MHM, are common challenges that can negatively affect Education, Employment, Health and psychosocial outcomes. The study aimed at examining Menstrual Hygiene Management Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in public primary schools in public Primary schools in Kisumu west sub-county. The respondents consisted of class 6-8 girls, teachers, Head teachers, and MoE officials who were key informants for the study. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedules. The data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 software. Both quantitative and qualitative findings were presented in the study. The study revealed that there is high prevalence of poor MHM among adolescent girls, and there exist a strong association between poor MHM and low knowledge. The study concluded that menstrual hygiene management in public primary schools is greatly influenced by knowledge, attitudes and practices of school management and girls’ perceptions. The study recommends the need for comprehensive education interventions in school settings, delivered during early adolescence to reach pre-menarche girls, particularly in rural settings for improve menstrual hygiene practices. The government should have a clear monitoring tool to ensure pupils receive accurate and timely information on menstruation and menstrual hygiene management.

The Effect of Chair Aerobic Exercises and Core Strengthening Exercises on Pain and Functional Disability in Primary Dysmenorrhoea

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the impact of chair aerobic exercises and core strengthening exercises on primary dysmenorrhea, assessing pain and disability scores using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Women's Low Back Pain and Disability Index (WaLLID). The effectiveness of these exercise interventions in reducing pain and disability associated with primary dysmenorrhea was examined. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with participants diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea. Two exercise groups were formed: chair aerobic exercises and core strengthening exercises. Pain and disability scores were measured using NPRS and WaLLID before and after the intervention. The exercises were performed for a specific duration, and the scores were compared within and between the exercise groups. Results: Both chair aerobic exercises and core strengthening exercises significantly decreased pain and disability scores of NPRS and WaLLID. However, no significant difference was observed in the scores between the two exercise groups. These findings indicate that both exercise modalities are effective in reducing pain and disability associated with primary dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: This study concludes that chair aerobic exercises and core strengthening exercises are effective in managing pain and disability in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea. Both exercise interventions offer comparable benefits in terms of pain management and functional improvement. The results support previous research highlighting the positive impact of exercise interventions on menstrual pain management. Chair aerobic exercises provide a suitable option for individuals with limited mobility or a preference for seated exercise, while core strengthening exercises focus on enhancing core strength and stability. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects, optimal exercise protocols, and potential combinations with other treatment modalities for primary dysmenorrhea management. Understanding the underlying physiological mechanisms of these exercise interventions would provide valuable insights for improving dysmenorrhea management. Keywords: Primary dysmenorrhea, Chair aerobic exercises, Core strengthening exercises, pain, disability, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Women's Low Back Pain and Disability Index.

Yoga as a school health service for adolescents suffering from primary dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common pain issue among girls in adolescence and it is characterized by the fact that is not associated with other pathological conditions. Among professionals that work in adolescent sexual and reproductive healthcare, dysmenorrhea is considered to be a periodic pain issue that can be temporarily treated by medicine, but the recurrence of the pain and the monthly discomfort have a larger impact on the lives of the adolescent girls. The voices of adolescents that reflect the need for alternative solutions as complementary therapy become more intense. Yoga as a complementary therapy can educate and contribute to the management of menstrual pain and provide a better quality of life. This article provides information about the recent research on interventions of yogic science in schools, to enhance adolescent reproductive health and help them overcome menstrual pain. It highlights the importance of using a wider spectrum of yogic tools and discusses their application to the school context, resulting in a positive effect on treating primary dysmenorrhea.

Development and validation of the Self-Efficacy in Addressing Menstrual Needs Scale (SAMNS-26) in Bangladeshi schools: A measure of girls' menstrual care confidence.

Qualitative studies have described girls' varying levels of confidence in managing their menstruation, with greater confidence hypothesized to positively impact health, education, and social participation outcomes. Yet, measurement of this and other psychosocial components of adolescent girls' menstrual experiences has been weak in global health research, in part due to a dearth of appropriate psychometric tools. We describe the development and validation of the Self-Efficacy in Addressing Menstrual Needs Scale (SAMNS-26). We conducted nine focus group discussions with girls in schools in rural and urban Bangladesh to identify tasks involved in menstrual self-care. This informed our creation of an initial pool of 50 items, which were reviewed by menstrual health experts and refined through 21 cognitive interviews with schoolgirls. Using a self-administered survey, we administered 34 refined items plus additional validation measures to a random sample of 381 post-menarcheal girls (ages 9-17) and retested a subsample of 42 girls two weeks later. We examined the measure's dimensionality using exploratory factor analysis and assessed internal consistency, temporal stability, and construct validity. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a 26-item scale comprising three correlated sub-scales: the 17-item Menstrual Hygiene Preparation and Maintenance (α = 0.86), the 5-item Menstrual Pain Management (α = 0.87), and the 4-item Executing Stigmatized Tasks (α = 0.77). Sub-scales exhibited good temporal stability. SAMNS-26 scores correlated negatively with measures of anxiety, and girls who preferred to stay at home during their periods had lower SAMNS-26 scores than those who did not. The SAMNS-26 provides a reliable measure of a schoolgirl's confidence in her capabilities to address her menstrual needs. There is initial evidence to support the measure's construct validity in the Bangladesh context as indicated by its relationships with other factors in its theorized nomological network. The tool enables incorporation of self-efficacy into multivariate models for exploring the relationships among antecedents to menstrual experiences and hypothesized impacts on health, wellbeing, and education attainment. Further testing of the tool is recommended to strengthen evidence of its validity in additional contexts.

THE EFFECT OF MASSAGE EFFLEURAGE WITH LAVENDER AROMATHERAPY ON THE INTENSITY OF DYMENORORE PAIN IN ADOLESCENT WOMEN IN THE PABELAN HEALTH CENTER

ABSTRACT&#x0D; &#x0D; The incidence of dysmenorrhea in the world is very large, at least 45-90% of women experience dysmenorrhea during the reproductive years. Several self-care measures can be taken for the management of menstrual pain. One of the non-pharmacological methods to reduce pain intensity can be done by using effleurage massage and lavender aromatherapy.&#x0D; This study aims to find out the effect of massage effleurage combination of lavender aromatherapy on the intensity of dysmenorrhea pain in adolescent women in the working area of Pabelan Health Center.&#x0D; The research method used is quantitative using a quasi-experimental approach. The sampling technique used non-probability sampling/non-random, the number of samples was 28 people according to the specified criteria. Massage effleurage combined with lavender aromatherapy for 10 minutes. The act of giving 3 drops of lavender aromatherapy into 40 ml of water through a diffuser that will be turned on during massage effleurage therapy&#x0D; The result of this study was that there was a difference in disminore pain in adolescent women before and after the intervention of Massage Effleurage therapy combined with lavender aromatherapy in the working area of Pabelan Health Center of Semarang Regency (P-value = 0.000).&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Dysmenorrhea, Lavender Aromatherapy, Massage Effleurage,

Efektivitas Masase Effleurage dan Akupresur Sanyinjiao Point Terhadap Intensitas Nyeri Haid

Menstrual pain management measures or non-pharmacological therapy are alternative interventions or combinations in reducing the intensity of menstrual pain. Non-pharmacological therapy is a cheap, simple and safe therapy that uses physiological processes, one of which is massage effleurage and acupressure. The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze the effect of effleurage massage and Sanyinjiao point acupressure on the intensity of menstrual pain. The research design method used was a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test two design. The sample used was 68 female students who experienced menstrual pain in both groups. The statistical test used was the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Mann-Whitney test. In the Wilcoxon marked ranking test, the study of the effleurage massage group showed a p value = 0.000, then there was an effect after doing the effleurage massage, and the acupressure group showed a p value = 0.000, so there was an effect after applying acupressure on the menstrual pain scale. In conclusion, non-pharmacological therapy, massage effleurage and acupressure are effective in reducing the intensity of menstrual pain in female students. In the Mann-Whitney test, there are differences in the effect of effleurage massage and acupressure in overcoming menstrual pain, and the difference in the intensity of menstrual pain from the effect of effleurage massage is 44.09 greater than acupressure 24.91, p = 0.000. Acupressure is more effective than massage effleurage in dealing with menstrual pain, because acupressure therapy with a focus on the sanyinjiao point can increase endorphins levels and relieve pain more quickly.

Prevalence and Impact of Dysmenorrhea Among University Students in Ireland.

ObjectivePrimary dysmenorrhea (PD), or painful menstruation, is a common gynecological condition that can cause intense pain and functional disability in women of reproductive age. As a nonmalignant condition, PD is relatively understudied and poorly managed. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and impact of PD among third-level students in Ireland.DesignA cross-sectional observational design was used.MethodsStudents (n = 892; age range = 18–45 years) completed an online survey on menstrual pain characteristics, pain management strategies, pain interference, and pain catastrophizing.ResultsThe prevalence of PD was 91.5% (95% confidence interval = 89.67–93.33). Nonpharmacological management strategies were most popular (95.1%); of these, heat application (79%), rest (60.4%), hot shower/bath (40.9%), and exercise (25.7%) were most common. Perceived effectiveness of these methods varied between participants. Analgesic use was also common (79.5%); of these, paracetamol was most used (60.5%) despite limited perceived effectiveness. Pain catastrophizing was a significant predictor of variance in both pain intensity and pain interference scores such that those with higher pain catastrophizing scores reported more intense pain and greater interference with daily activities and academic demands.ConclusionsThis article presents the first investigation into PD among third-level students in Ireland. Poorly managed menstrual pain may impact functional ability across several domains. Future research should focus on improving menstrual pain management education and support and promoting menstrual health literacy for women affected by PD.

Effect Of Lavender Oil Aromaterapy On Menstrual Pain In Students AT SMPN18 PESAWARAN In 2020

The problem of primary dysmenorrhoea is largely overcome by resting and takingmedication. Many ways to eliminate or reduce dysmenorrhea both pharmacologicallyand non-pharmacologically. Management of menstrual pain can also be managed non-pharmacologically, such as giving aromatherapy, aromatherapy administrationtechniques can use a variety of aromatherapy such as lavender. The purpose of thisstudy was to determine the effect of Lavender Oil Aromatherapy on Menstrual Pain inStudents at SMP N 18 Pesawaran in 2020. This type of quantitative research design isquasy experimental design research with one grub pretest and posttest approach. Thepopulation in this study were all students. Samples taken in this study were 31students who experienced disminore when the study took place. Analysis of the dataused using the Wilcoxon test. The results of data analysis and processing found thatthere was an effect of Lavender Oil Aromatherapy on Menstrual Pain in Junior HighSchool 18 Pesawaran in 2020 with a p-value of 0,000 &lt;0.05. Respondents can increasetheir knowledge about handling disminorea by searching for information via theinternet or reading books, so that respondents are not dependent on pharmacologicaltreatment alone.

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN MINUMAN KUNYIT ASAM TERHADAP INTENSITAS NYERI MENSTRUASI PADA REMAJA PUTRI

Menstruation is a natural and natural event, but in reality many women experience menstrual problems, including menstrual pain or dysmenorrhoea. Nonpharmacological menstrual pain management can be done by giving turmeric acid extract. This study aims to determine the effect of giving turmeric acid extract on the intensity of menstrual pain in adolescent girls in State High School 1 Serdang Bedagai Regency in 2020. The research method is quantitative. This type of research is a quasi-experimental design with one-group pretest-posttest design. The study population was 150 class X and XI students of State High School 1 Serdang Bedagai Regency as many as 150 people. The sample selection using purposive sampling as many as 36 people. The results of the study using Wilcoxon sign rank test showed p-value of 0,000 &lt;0.05. The conclusion is there are differences before and after giving turmeric acid drink to the intensity of menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea). It is expected that schools can provide information to students about the use of turmeric acid as a non-pharmacological treatment in reducing menstrual pain.

The assessment of Kinesiology Taping application in the reduction of menstrual pains among female basketball players

INTRODUCTION. A menstrual pain often contributes to the decline of a woman's life quality. It remains a serious problem in an everyday life, but also in a proffessional life of a sportwoman as it significantly affects the achieved results. Pharmacology is the most popular way to cease the menstrual pain. However, thanks to the development of physiotherapy, many methods of the menstrual pain management have been emerged and they are still evolving. It is in this regard especially noticebale that Kinesiology Taping should be paid rapt attention. &#x0D; AIM OF THE RESEARCH. The aim of the research is to assess Kinesiology Taping application in the reduction of menstrual pains among female basketball players. &#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY. The reaserch was conducted in a group of 35 women aged 20-36 with regular menstrual cycles and who train basketball professionaly. This group was for itself the study group and the control group. The assessment was conducted twice: 1) the first menstrual cycle after the research inclusion (no medical intervention); 2) the second menstrual cycle with the application of Kinesiology Taping. 3 day prior menstrual bleeding Kinesiology Taping was used among the participants of the reasearch. The 'I'-shaped cutting technique was used. The tapes tension was 50% and they were on women's bodies for 7 days. &#x0D; RESULTS. The average pain intensity in the NRS scale before the therapy was 5,525286 (median 6,00). Whereas after the therapy with the kinesiology taping application the decline of pain intensity was noted at the level of 3,428571 (median 3,00). The statistical analysis showed that the use of Kinesiology Taping had statistically significant – p

Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea among University Students in the South of Spain and Family Influence.

The present study analyses the management of primary dysmenorrhea by university students in the south of Spain. In this cross-sectional observational study, 224 women participated, using an ad hoc self-report questionnaire about menstrual pain and self-care and including sociodemographic and gynecological variables. Some 76.8% of participants consumed analgesics and the majority self-medicated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without consulting a health professional, with a correlation between pain intensity and the number of pills ingested during menstruation (r = 0.151, p < 0.05). The higher proportion of women who found their analgesia effective were those who took medication after being prescribed by a health care provider (60.8%) compared to those who self-medicated (40%; p < 0.01). Only 43.8% employed non-pharmaceutical methods, most commonly antalgic positions, massages and local heat. These choices were not related to the intensity of menstrual pain nor with the severity of the dysmenorrhea, nor did these most common methods prove to be the most effective. However, a higher percentage of women using non-pharmacological methods was identified in women with family members suffering from dysmenorrhea (73.2%) compared to those without (60%; p = 0.040), which may indicate that the choice of remedies is more related to learning self-care in the family context. This study identifies the need for education on self-care and management of menstrual pain.

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN JAMU TEMULAWAK (CURCUMA ZANTHORRHIZA) TERHADAP PENURUNAN NYERI MENSTRUASI (DISMENOREA) PADA REMAJA PUTRI DI SMA NEGERI 1 SELESAI TAHUN 2019

Dysmenorrhoea is one of the problems in the menstrual process. Dysmenorrhoea often occurs in adolescents and can interfere with daily activities, such as not concentrating learning, lazy to follow activities, can not go to school. For dysminorea, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are needed. Handling nonpharmacology, one of which is giving curcuma herbal medicine. This type of researcher pre-experiment with the design of Quasy Experiment using one group pretest-post test design, which uses a group of subjects and take measurements before and after giving treatment to the subject. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the administration of temulawak herbal medicine on the reduction of menstrual pain in young women at SMA Negeri 1 Selesai. The study population was 40 people who experienced menstrual pain and a sample of 20 people used a purposive sampling technique. Data analysis with paired t-test, normality test used analytic shapiro-wilk with Wilcoxon test (signed rank test). Collecting data in the form of observation sheets. The results showed the majority of respondents given herbal ginger did not feel pain 7 people (35%), respondents who experienced mild pain 12 people (60%), and moderate pain there was 1 person (5%). The results of this study indicate the influence before and after the administration of Curcuma Zanthorrhiza medicine with a P-value of 0,000. It is recommended for aolescent Girls to increase their knowledge of natural menstrual pain management by reading references and attending health education, the active role of health workers in providing information about reproductive health to adolescents, especially the management of menstrual pain naturally with temulawak processed.

Menstrual hygiene management and school absenteeism among adolescent students in Indonesia: evidence from a cross-sectional school-based survey.

To assess the prevalence of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) knowledge and practices among adolescent schoolgirls in Indonesia, and assess factors associated with poor MHM and school absenteeism due to menstruation. A cross-sectional survey enrolled a representative sample of urban and rural school-going girls aged 12-19years in four provinces of Indonesia. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire obtained socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, practices and attitudes related to menstruation, MHM and school absenteeism. School water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities were also assessed. Univariate weighted population prevalence was estimated and multivariable logit regression analyses applied to explore associations. A total of 1159 adolescent girls with a mean age of 15years (SD=1.8) participated. Most girls (90.8%, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=79.7-96.1) had reached menarche. Over half (64.1%, 95% CI=49.9-76.2) reported poor MHM practices, and 11.1% (95% CI=8.1-15.2) had missed one or more days of school during their most recent menstrual period. Poor MHM practices were associated with rural residence (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.73, 95% CI=1.13-2.64), province (various AOR), lower school grade (AOR=1.69, 95% CI=1.05-2.74) and low knowledge of menstruation (AOR=3.49, 95% CI=1.61-7.58). Absenteeism was associated with living in rural areas (AOR=3.96, 95% CI=3.02-5.18), province (various AOR), higher school grade (AOR=3.02, 95% CI=2.08-4.38), believing menstruation should be kept secret (AOR=1.47, 95% CI=1.03-2.11), experiencing serious menstrual pain (AOR=1.68, 95% CI=1.06-2.68) and showed mixed associations with school WASH facilities. High prevalence of poor MHM and considerable school absenteeism due to menstruation among Indonesian girls highlight the need for improved interventions that reach girls at a young age and address knowledge, shame and secrecy, acceptability of WASH infrastructure and menstrual pain management.

Management of Usr-i-Tamth (Menstrual Pain) in Unani (Greco-Islamic) Medicine.

Usr-i-tamth in Unani (Greco-Arabic) medicine is pain associated with menstruation, and classical manuscripts are enriched with traditional knowledge for the management of usr-i-tamth (menstrual pain/dysmenorrhoea). Hence, a comprehensive search was undertaken to find classical manuscripts for the management of menstrual pain was. We searched the Cochrane database, PubMed/Google Scholar, and other websites for articles on complementary and alternative medicine treatment and management of menstrual pain. The principal management as per Unani manuscripts is to produce analgesia and to treat the cause of usr-i-tamth such as abnormal temperament, menstrual irregularities/uterine diseases, and psychological and environmental factors. Furthermore, Unani medicines with emmenagogue, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties are beneficial for amelioration of usr-i-tamth. Herbs such as Apium graveolens, Cuminum cyminium, Foeniculum vulgare, Matricaria chamomilla and Nigella sativa possess the aforementioned properties and are proven scientifically for their efficacy in usr-i-tamth. Thus, validation and conservation of the traditional knowledge is essential for prospective research and valuable for use in the contemporary era.

Effects of Yoga on Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objectives: To assess the evidence for the effectiveness of yoga in the management of menstrual pain and the symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea. Methods: A search was conducted using CINAHL, the Cochrane library, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and KoreaMed electronic databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported effects of yogic intervention on dysmenorrhea published in any language between January 1966 and October 2014. Quality assessment was conducted using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results: Two potential trials were identified of which two were included in the review. Quality critical appraisal had low or moderate risk of bias. The available data could only be included as a narrative description. A significant difference was observed between experimental and control groups in pain intensity and pain duration (p<0.05) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (p<0.002), follicle-stimulating hormone (p<0.02), luteinizing hormone (p<0.001), and prolactin (p<0.02) were decreased significantly in the experimental group, compared with the control group. Conclusions: There is evidence from two RCTs that yoga interventions may be favorable effective for dysmenorrhea. However the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the number of small RCTs and quality limitation partly. Therefore further high quality RCTs are required to investigate the hypothesis that yoga alleviates menstrual pain and the symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea, to confirm and further comprehend the effects of standardized yoga programs in dysmenorrhea.