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Abstract

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a common condition that occurs monthly during the female menstrual cycle. It is typically associated with pain in the lower abdomen that has the potential to negatively affect quality of life. One of the main reasons females experience adverse symptoms is due to the excess release of prostaglandins. Those with PD commonly take nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which can increase the risk for long-term negative health effects. Due to the prevalence of this condition and the effects of commonly used medication, the researchers explored the use of non-pharmacological treatments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of pelvic floor exercises in comparison to NSAIDs in reducing dysmenorrhea. Similarly, the critically appraised topic (CAT) evaluated the effectiveness of 2 non-pharmacological treatments, specifically yoga and pelvic floor exercises to the same population, those experiencing PD. Methods. Four raters conducted an exhaustive search across 6 databases: Cochrane, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health (CINAHL), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Google Scholar. The studies included in the search involved randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published within the last 5 years, with the focus of females experiencing primary dysmenorrhea and the treatment of NSAIDs or pelvic floor exercises. The exclusion criteria consisted of the following: urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and studies rated Level III or below in the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence tool (OCEBM) or American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). In the critically appraised topic (CAT), search terms included dysmenorrhea, yoga, pelvic floor exercises, and pain management. Results. The researchers gathered 10 RCTs. Eight studies supported the administration of pharmacological treatment, 2 studies focused on the use of pelvic floor exercise treatment, and only 1 study directly compared NSAIDs with pelvic floor exercise. As for the CAT, 2 systematic reviews (SRs) were retained. Both articles supported the use of yoga or general physical therapy exercise in reducing dysmenorrhea. Conclusion. Our systematic review suggests Kegel contract relax pelvic floor exercise is more effective than the NSAID Naproxen Sodium in reducing pain and improving quality of life for individuals experiencing dysmenorrhea. However, further research must be conducted to confirm this statement to be true or to assess whether other types of pelvic floor exercise may be comparable to NSAIDs in relieving menstrual pain.

Details

1010268
Business indexing term
Title
From Pills to Pelvic Power: A New Approach to Managing Dysmenorrhea
Number of pages
62
Publication year
2025
Degree date
2025
School code
1323
Source
DAI-A 87/5(E), Dissertation Abstracts International
ISBN
9798263310776
Committee member
Adamiak-Pellow, Katherine
University/institution
Azusa Pacific University
Department
Physical Therapy
University location
United States -- California
Degree
D.P.T.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Dissertation/thesis number
32281123
ProQuest document ID
3272518137
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/pills-pelvic-power-new-approach-managing/docview/3272518137/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Database
ProQuest One Academic