ABSTRACT
Dysmenorrheal pain is the most common gynecological problem for menstruating women. Fifty percent of menstruating women are affected by dysmenorrheal pain and 10% have severe dysmenorrheal cycles, which greatly limit their activities for one to three days each month. Many consumers are currently seeking alternative therapies, which play an important role in treatment of menstrual disorders. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of alternative therapies for relieving pain with primary dysmenorrhea among students in the Faculty of Nursing, El Menia. The research hypothesis was that students who will follow the practice of alternative therapies, which include exercise, herbal therapy [peppermint and chamomile], and Trans-cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation [TENS] will experience an alleviation of dysmenorrheal pain. This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Faculty of Nursing at El-Menia University at beginning of October 2003. A stratified random sample technique was used on 300 student nurses from grades II, III, and IV. Their age ranged from 17 to 21 years. They were equally divided into three groups for each type of alternative therapies for relief of primary dysmenorrheal pain, namely, Trans-Cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation [TENS], herbal, and exercise. The following tools were used for data collection self-administered questionnaire, and a modified pain intensity scale. A self-learning booklet was designed by the researchers and distributed as a guide to students for alternative therapies. The effect of alternative therapies on the characteristics of menstruation was assessed by comparing pre-trial and three-month follow-up data. A pilot study was done on 10% of the pre stated sample and according to its results tools were modified those students were excluded from the sample
Results: showed lower back and lower abdominal pain were the most common sites of pain. The compliance of students in the three groups was mostly satisfactory throughout the follow-up period of three months. There were statistically significant improvements in most characteristics of menstruation as well as pain and daily activities in all three groups
Conclusion: using alternative therapies has led to minimization of dysmenorrheal pain intensity, with improvement of its effect on daily activities and absenteeism. It is recommended that alternative therapies be more widely used and recommended by health care providers