EFFECTS OF FENUGREEK SEED ON THE SEVERITY OF DYSMENORRHEA

Younesy, S and Alavi Majd, H and Esmaeili, S and Namazi, M and Amiraliakbari, S (2015) EFFECTS OF FENUGREEK SEED ON THE SEVERITY OF DYSMENORRHEA. The Journal of Urmia Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, 13 (3). pp. 226-233.

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Abstract

In view of the high prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and its undesirable consequences on the quality of life, and due to the anti-inflammatory properties of fenugreek, this study was carried out to examine the effect of fenugreek extract on primary dysmenorrhea. Materials & Methods: The double blind clinical controlled study was conducted on 101 students at Shahid Beheshti University. Students were randomly assigned to two groups who received fenugreek (n=51) or placebo (n=50). For the first 3 days of menstruation, 2−3 capsules containing fenugreek seed powder (900 mg) were given to the subjects three times daily for two consecutive menstrual cycles. Pain severity was evaluated using a visual analog scale and systemic symptoms were assessed using a multidimensional verbal scale. The severity of the symptoms in each group and between the two groups was analyzed, respectively, with the Friedman and the Man-Whitney tests. Results: Pain severity at baseline did not differ significantly between the two groups. Pain severity was significantly reduced in both groups after the intervention; however, the fenugreek group experienced significantly larger pain reduction (p<0.001). With respect to the duration of pain, there was no meaningful difference between the two cycles in the placebo group (p=0.07) but in the fenugreek group, the duration of pain decreased between the two cycles (p<0.001). Systemic symptoms of dysmenorrhea (fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, lack of energy, syncope) decreased in the fenugreek seed group (p<0.05). No side effects were reported in the fenugreek group. Conclusion: These data suggest that prescription of fenugreek seed powder during menstruation can reduce the severity of dysmenorrhea; further studies are needed to compare fenugreek with antiinflammatory medications.

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