Study, 1982
Can learning relaxation techniques help reduce menstrual pain?
Yes. When women with menstrual pain learned relaxation and pain management in four sessions, they reported significant reductions in pain and discomfort, with improvements still present 18 months later.
What they did
Women with menstrual pain recorded their symptoms for two menstrual cycles. They then attended four individual sessions learning pain management through relaxation. Researchers compared their symptoms after training to their baseline and to women who received no training.
What they found
Women who received training reported significant reductions in pain, discomfort, interference with activities, and time lost compared to their baseline and to untreated women. The improvements were still present 18 months after training.
What it means for you
Learning relaxation and pain management is an effective way to reduce menstrual pain without medication. The benefits last long-term (at least 18 months). The main limits are that the abstract does not state the sample size and does not compare this to medication or other treatments.
4
training sessions
18
months improvement lasted
2
baseline cycles
About the study
- Original title
- Self-control of dysmenorrheic symptoms through pain management training
- Authors
- Quillen MA, Denney DR
- Journal
- Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry
- Year
- 1982
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Four sessions of pain management training teaching relaxation techniques
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0005-7916(82)90053-2
Topics
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