The Comparison of Echinophora-Platyloba and Fennel effects on the Primary Dysmenorrhea

Introduction & Dysmenorrhea nearly occurs in five percent of women with regular menstruation. Different therapeutic methods were performed for the treatment of dysmenorrhea and obviously a method with the fewest side effects is preferred. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of echinophora-platyloba with fennel on the primary dysmenorrhea. This clinical trial was carried out in sixty unmarried students with mild and moderate dysmenorrhea in Shahrekord University of medical sciences. The students were randomely selected and classified into two equal groups one of twitch received echinophora-platyloba and the other fennel extracts. The severity of pain was detected by the visual analogue scale during two cycles before and two cycles after the intervention. The data was analyzed by spss software, t-test, chi-square and Pearson correlation tests and P<0.05 was considered significant. There was no significant difference in the mean of dysmenorrhea severity during the two cycles before the intervention between the two groups, but during the two cycles after the intervention, both drugs could reduce the severity of dysmenorrheal. However, this reduction was lower in recipients of echinophora-platyloba extract than the recipients of fennel extract and the difference was significant (P<0.001). Echinophora-platyloba and fennel extracts could reduce the dysmenorrhea during the intervention and the effects of fennel were greater than echinophora-platyloba so the consumption of fennel extract is suggested for dysmenorrhea.