The Effect of Beta- Endorphin Serum Level on Amendment of Dysmenorrhea Factors after Eight Weeks

Pain is one of the most common reasons that oblige people to refer to a doctor. With regard to beta-endorphin effect on pain reduction, the aim of this study is investigation of the effect of beta -endorphin serum level on amendment of dysmenorrhea factors after eight weeks aerobic exercise. This is a Clinical Trial. The sample included 22 subjects with moderate to severe dysmenorrhea, which randomly divided to two control group (n=10) and exercise group (n=12). Aerobic exercise program included aerobic activity with severity of 60-75% of maximum heart rate for 24 sessions (three sessions per week, each session lasting 45-60 minutes). Serum level of beta-endorphin was measured before and after the exercise intervention. Dependent and independent student t-test was used to investigate the intragroup and intergroup differences of beta-endorphin. Pearson correlation test was used to estimate the relation of variables of study. Findings of study showed that exercise intervention made a significant increasing on the serum level of beta-endorphin. Also there is a significant negative relationship between serum level of beta-endorphin and intensity and perception of pain. But any significant relation with duration of pain was not observed. In general, it seems that increasing of beta-endorphin levels, which was created following the exercise, can have a role in analgesia and reduction of the indicators of dysmenorrhea pain.