Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background & Aim: Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common problems in gynecology. Almost 50% of all girls suffer from dysmenorrhea and about 10% of reproductive girls are absent from their work for 1-3 days due to dysmenorrhea.

Dysmenorrhea accounts for 600 million lost work hours and $2 billion lost productivity annually. Due to the bad effets of severe dysmenorrhea on girls, relieving the pain is important. One of the nonpharmacological methods to relieve dysmenorrhea is acupressure. This study aims to determine the effects of SP6 acupressure on primary dysmenorrhea in medical university students in Birjand between 2006 and 2007.

Patients and Method: In a single-blind, randomized, clinical trial, 86 single students with regular menstruation and primary dysmenorrhea were chosen based on the history, interview and observation forms and divided into two groups of real acupressure and pelacebo acupressure. In the acupressure group, at the initial 24 hours of menstruation acupressure at the acupoint was applied to both sides. In the placebo group, at the initial 24 hours of menstruation the subjects were given placebo acupressure twice. The force applied to the acupoint was initially 1/21 kg increasing to 3/53 kg at the end of the therapy. SP6 was pressed with the thumb for 6 seconds and released for 2 seconds without pressure. Two complete cycles of pressure were performed on each leg for a total of 30 minutes. After that, the intensity of dysmenorrhea was measured by visual analog scale, including the rating from 0-10 cm, immediately, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after the intervention.

Data were analyzed using statistical tests called repeated measure analysis of variance and general linear model.

Results: The results showed that the mean intensity of dysmenorrhea was statistically different between the two groups after the intervention (p<0. 001). Also, the mean intensity of dysmenorrhea immediately, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after the intervention in the acupressure group was lower than that in the placebo group.

Conclusion: SP6 acupressure decreased the intensity of dysmenorrhea without any side effects. Therefore, it can be used as an easy, cheap and non-invasive method for dysmenorrhea relief.