---
title: What does research show about period pain and discomfort? | Niyora
description: A review of 33 research papers from 1992-1999 shows that period pain and discomfort are common, often occur together with other symptoms including mood change
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cyclic-perimenstrual-pain-and-discomfort-the-scientific-basis-for-practice-2002/
---

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- What does research show about period pain and discomfort?

Survey study, 2002

# What does research show about period pain and discomfort?

A review of 33 research papers from 1992-1999 shows that period pain and discomfort are common, often occur together with other symptoms including mood changes, and meaningfully affect women's daily life. Seven categories of treatment approaches were identified.

 Moderate study design

Literature review of research on menstrual pain and discomfort.

## What they did

Researchers reviewed 33 published studies about menstrual pain and related discomfort published between 1992 and 1999. They organized and synthesized the findings to help nurses understand and treat these conditions.

## What they found

The review developed three clinical descriptions of menstrual pain conditions: cyclic pelvic pain (repeating pain tied to the cycle that affects quality of life), perimenstrual discomfort, and perimenstrual negative mood changes. Treatment research was organized into seven categories.

## What it means for you

This summarizes what research showed about menstrual pain up to 1999. It demonstrates the problem is significant and affects how women live day to day. The main limits: the review only covered research through 1999 (so it is older), it was designed for nursing practice rather than testing a new treatment, and it does not identify which specific treatments work best.

33

research articles reviewed

1992-1999

time period of reviewed research

7

categories of treatment approaches identified

## About the study

Original title Cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort: the scientific basis for practice Authors Collins Sharp BA, Taylor DL, Thomas KK et al. Journal Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN Year 2002 Study design Survey study What was tested None - literature review Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/088421702129005272](https://doi.org/10.1177/088421702129005272)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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