Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual Pain)
Dysmenorrhea, also called menstrual pain, is pain that occurs during menstruation. It describes the painful symptom itself rather than a supplement, therapy, or other treatment used to address it.
Dysmenorrhea is the term used for menstrual pain.
This list shows research findings, not treatments. Nothing here replaces medical care. If you have this condition, talk to a doctor.
What may help
What studies found for each option, best evidence first.
7 options:2 some evidence5 not enough evidence
AcupuncturepracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials found improvements in pain, prostaglandins, and uterine artery blood flow compared with Western medicine. A separate network meta-analysis assessed acupuncture-related therapies using pain and prostaglandin outcomes.
Open the Acupuncture pageYogapracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A pooled analysis whose designs were not recorded reported lower menstrual pain with Yoga Nidra versus a passive comparator. A literature mapping also described improvements in physical fitness and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea.
Open the Yoga pageCardiopracticeNot enough evidence
Hatha YogapracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A 2025 randomized trial in 60 nursing students with primary dysmenorrhea found reduced menstrual pain and symptoms with yoga compared with control.
Open the Hatha Yoga pageHeating Pads / Warm CompressespracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A randomized trial involving 88 women with primary dysmenorrhea found that thermotherapy reduced pain intensity compared with placebo.
Open the Heating Pads / Warm Compresses pageTENS / EMS TherapypracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
All 3 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A single-blind randomized trial in 124 participants found that intermittent TENS reduced pain, prolonged pain relief, and lowered pain-medication use compared with placebo; no adverse effects were reported. A review of earlier studies also described reduced pain and analgesic use, along with improved quality of life.
Open the TENS / EMS Therapy pageYoga NidrapracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A pooled analysis of randomized and non-randomized human studies found a large reduction in pain with Yoga Nidra versus a passive comparator; within-group improvement was also reported.
Open the Yoga Nidra page
The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.
What may help
Interventions recorded as helping with this condition7 listedMost likely to help, from the evidence we have
- →PracticesAcupunctureCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials found improvements in pain, prostaglandins, and uterine artery blood flow compared with Western medicine. A separate network meta-analysis assessed acupuncture-related therapies using pain and prostaglandin outcomes.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Dysmenorrhea
Open AcupunctureStudy result
Network meta-analysis of 120 studies reporting acupuncture-related therapies for PD, with VAS and prostaglandin outcomes.
- →PracticesYogaCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A pooled analysis whose designs were not recorded reported lower menstrual pain with Yoga Nidra versus a passive comparator (g = −1.59, 95% CI −1.95 to −1.24, p < 0.001). A literature mapping also described improvements in physical fitness and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Back Pain
- Depression
- Dysmenorrhea
- Menstrual Irregularity
- Pregnancy
- Surgery Post
Open YogaStudy result
Subgroup meta-analysis: YGN vs passive comparator g = −1.59 (95% CI −1.95 to −1.24, p < 0.001, I² = 0%); within-group g = −1.83 (95% CI −2.20 to −1.46, p < 0.001).
Low probability(5)
- →PracticesCardioCertaintyLowSourceMeta-analysis
A pooled analysis whose designs were not recorded found reduced pain intensity (SMD = -1.728) and pain duration (WMD = -12.53 h) in nonathlete women with menstrual pain.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
Open CardioStudy result
Meta-analysis of 18 RCTs showing significant reduction in pain intensity (SMD = -1.728) and pain duration (WMD = -12.53 h) with aerobic exercise in nonathlete women with PD
- →PracticesHatha YogaCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A 2025 randomized trial in 60 nursing students with primary dysmenorrhea found reduced menstrual pain and symptoms with yoga compared with control.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Dysmenorrhea
Open Hatha YogaStudy result
RCT of 60 nursing students with primary dysmenorrhea; yoga reduced menstrual pain and symptoms versus control.
- →PracticesHeating Pads / Warm CompressesCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A randomized trial involving 88 women with primary dysmenorrhea found that thermotherapy reduced pain intensity compared with placebo.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Dysmenorrhea
Open Heating Pads / Warm CompressesStudy result
Thermotherapy reduced pain intensity versus placebo in women with primary dysmenorrhea in this RCT (n=88).
- →PracticesTENS / EMS TherapyCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A single-blind randomized trial in 124 participants found that intermittent TENS reduced pain, prolonged pain relief, and lowered pain-medication use compared with placebo; no adverse effects were reported. A review of earlier studies also described reduced pain and analgesic use, along with improved quality of life.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Dysmenorrhea
Open TENS / EMS TherapyStudy result
Single-blind RCT (n=124) found iTENS significantly reduced VAS pain, prolonged analgesia, and reduced pain medication use versus placebo, with no adverse effects.
- →PracticesYoga NidraCertaintyLowSourceClinicalLarge effect
A pooled analysis of randomized and non-randomized human studies found a large reduction in pain with Yoga Nidra versus a passive comparator (g: −1.59, 95% CI −1.95 to −1.24, p < 0.001); within-group improvement was also reported (g: −1.83, 95% CI −2.20 to −1.46, p < 0.001).
How big is the effect
Large effectA big difference on average. Check how strong the evidence is.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
Open Yoga NidraStudy result
Pooled analysis showed significant pain reduction with YGN vs passive comparator (g: −1.59, 95% CI −1.95 to −1.24, p < 0.001) and within-group improvement (g: −1.83, 95% CI −2.20 to −1.46, p < 0.001).
What to avoid
Interventions recorded as making it worseNothing in this library is currently recorded as making Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual Pain) worse. Coverage is partial, and absence here is not evidence of safety.
How to read the evidence
Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound
- StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
- ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
- PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
- LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
- InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.
Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real
- Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
- HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
- MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
- LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
- Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence
Source — where the data comes from
- Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
- RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
- ClinicalA human clinical study
- Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
- Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
- Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
- TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested
Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)
- AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
- BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
- CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
- DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only
Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding
A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement
Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.
Full write-up
What is it
Dysmenorrhea, also called menstrual pain, is pain that occurs during menstruation. It describes the painful symptom itself rather than a supplement, therapy, or other treatment used to address it. Research on options such as Chamomile, Zinc, Lavender Extract, and TENS / EMS Therapy concerns reducing this pain, but the evidence may not apply equally to everyone.
Evidence-backed options
The options associated with dysmenorrhea were studied in different ways and over different time frames. Zinc was administered in one to four daily doses of 20–30 mg before and during each menstrual cycle, with findings suggesting a possible reduction in menstrual pain intensity. Lavender Extract was evaluated as aromatherapy used for 2 months, with findings suggesting reduced pain severity in primary dysmenorrhea.
Chamomile was considered effective for primary dysmenorrhea and for reducing menstrual bleeding in the majority of studies reviewed, although the specific preparation, dose, duration, and speed of response are not specified here. TENS / EMS Therapy was assessed for menstrual pain, with findings indicating reduced pain, longer-lasting analgesia, and less pain-medication use compared with placebo; the available summary does not specify how long treatment was continued or how quickly effects appeared.
Overall, the evidence is not equally detailed across these options. Zinc has the clearest dose and cycle-timing information, while Lavender Extract has a defined 2-month period. For Chamomile and TENS / EMS Therapy, important details about dosing or treatment duration are not provided, making direct comparisons difficult. The findings summarized here do not report conflicting evidence, but they also do not establish that every option works for every person or identify a precise onset of benefit. Anyone considering options for a medical condition should discuss them with a clinician.