Pelvic Floor + Breathing Exercises: Participants will perform both pelvic floor and diaphragmatic breathing exercises according to the study protocol. Assessments will focus on pain, quality of life, and psychological measures.
Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises: Participants will perform only diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Assessments will be conducted in the same manner.
Study summary
This study investigates whether combining pelvic floor muscle exercises with diaphragmatic breathing exercises can reduce menstrual pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Forty participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: one performing both exercises, and the other performing only diaphragmatic breathing. The study will measure pain, menstrual symptoms, quality of life, and psychological well-being before and after the intervention.
Eligibility
Sex
FEMALE
Min age
18 Years
Max age
25 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion Criteria:
* Aged 18 years or older
* Diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea (PD)
* Having regular menstrual cycles for the past 6 months
* Willing to participate in the study
Exclusion Criteria:
* Diagnosis of secondary dysmenorrhea
* Irregular menstrual cycles (less than 21 days or more than 35 days)
* History of childbirth or previous pregnancy
* Currently pregnant
* Presence of any neurological, systemic, or psychiatric chronic disease
* Regular use of medications in the past 6 months
Primary outcome measure(s)
Pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale, VAS) — 1-2 days before the onset of menstruation (pre-menstrual assessment) and 1-2 days after the end of menstruation (post-menstrual assessment). Pain severity will be assessed using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst imaginable pain." Participants will mark their perceived pain level, which will then be measured with a ruler to obtain a numerical value.
Pain Threshold (Pressure Algometer) — 1-2 days before the onset of menstruation (pre-menstrual assessment) and 1-2 days after the end of menstruation (post-menstrual assessment). Pain threshold will be assessed at six anatomical points using a pressure algometer. Pressure is gradually increased until participants report pain. Two measurements per point are recorded, with the mean value calculated in lbs/cm².
Menstrual Symptoms (Menstrual Symptom Scale - MSS) — 1-2 days before the onset of menstruation (pre-menstrual assessment) and 1-2 days after the end of menstruation (post-menstrual assessment). The severity of menstrual symptoms will be assessed using the Menstrual Symptom Scale (MSS), whose Turkish validity and reliability were established by Güvenç, Seven, and Akyüz (2014). The scale consists of 22 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 ("never") to 5 ("always").
Minimum possible total score: 22 points Maximum possible total score: 110 points
Premenstrual Symptoms (PMS Scale) — One week before menstruation Premenstrual symptoms will be assessed using the 44-item PMS Scale, covering nine subscales such as depressive mood, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, pain, sleep, and appetite changes. The total score of the scale is obtained by summing the scores from all subscales, ranging from 44 to 220 points. Higher scores indicate a greater severity of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms.
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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