RESUMO
Primary dysmenorrhea has relatively high incidence which can influence the well being and activities of the sufferers. An experimental cross-over study was designed to compare the effectiveness of vitamin E and mefenamic acid on reducing the severity of dysmenorrheal symptoms. Eighty six female medical students, aged between 18-26 who were suffering from primary dysmenorrhea were recruited. After having written consent they were divided into two groups of 43 individuals who received 500 units of vitamin E [2 tablets of 400 and 100 units] and 750mg mefenamic acid [250mg IDS] per day respectively. Treatment with vitamin E was started 2 days before the beginning of menstruation and continued until the first day of bleeding [3 days in total] and mefenamic acid was administered only during the first 48 hours of menstruation [only two days] Severity of pain, duration of bleeding, duration of menstruation and other symptoms such as diarrhea, secondary nausea, vomiting, vertigo, headache, legache, epigastric pain, pelvic pain before and after the treatment were recorded. Severity of pain was monitored by visual analogue scale [VAS] method on a visual scale. Monitoring was carried out for 2 consecutive cycles in both groups. Crossover was carried out and observation was continued for another 2 cycles. The result of this study indictate that both vitamin E and mefenamic acid could reduce the severity of pain similarly nevertheless but vitamin E consumption, complications such as digestive disorders such aspyrosis, stomach-ache, nausea and fatigue were significantly less compared to mefenamic acid. It appears that mefenamic acid could be replaced by vitamin E in reducing complications of dysmenorrhea