مجله زنان مامائی و نازائی ایران
سال هجدهم شماره 161 (هفته سوم شهریور 1394)

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) involves a wide variety of mood، physical، and behavioral symptoms that occur cyclically before menstruation and has negative impact on daily activities and quality of life. Due to the lack of understanding of the exact etiology of this syndrome، several treatments have been proposed. One of the therapeutic methods is use of medicinal plants. This study was performed with aim to investigate the effect of valerian on the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms. This double-blind clinical trial was performed on 120 female students with premenstrual syndrome symptoms who were resident in female student dormitory of Rasht Islamic Azad University in 2013. They were randomly divided into two groups of case (n=60) and control (n=60). The intervention group received valerian oral capsule (530 mg Valerian root) twice a day at least 7 days before the start of menstruation for two consecutive cycles، and placebo group received placebo capsule (50 mg of carbohydrate) with same condition. Data collection tool was Dickerson questionnaire. The severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms was determined and then was compared with 1 and 2 months after the intervention. Data was analyzed with SPSS statistical software (version 22)، and t-test، Chi-square، Mann-Whitney، Friedman، and Wilcoxon tests. In this study، the severity of mood، physical، and behavioral symptoms and overall severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms had a significant reduction in the intervention group than the control group 1 and 2 months after using lavender (P<0. 001). Valerian is effective on the reduction of the severity of mood، physical، behavioral and total symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Therefore، it is recommended for premenstrual syndrome.

Sleep disturbance is one of the most obvious symptoms in menopause. Hormone replacement treatment improves menopausal symptoms such as insomnia. However، women do not select hormone therapy because of its adverse effects. This study was performed with aim to determine the effect of regular walking with pedometer on sleep subjective quality in postmenopausal women at medical-health centers of Ahvaz. This randomized clinical trial was performed on 112 qualified postmenopausal women in medical-health centers of Ahvaz in 2014. The subjects were randomly placed in two groups of intervention and control. The intervention group had walking at least five times a week، each time for one hour، and their steps were recorded with a pedometer. Data collection tool was Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire that were collected in four stages (before intervention، four weeks، eight weeks، and twelve weeks later). Data was analyzed using SPSS software (version18) and t-test، Chi-square test، non-parametric Mann-Whitney test، and Friedman repeated measurement. Mean score of sleep subjective quality in intervention group was significantly reduced from 2. 1±0. 6 to 1. 2±0. 6 (P=0. 001) Which indicate improvement of sleeping. and in control group from 2. 1±0. 5 to 2±0. 6 which was not significant (P=0. 08). Regular walking in postmenopausal women maintains sleep subjective quality and promotes their sleep subjective quality. Therefore، according to the results of the study and the access to supportive sources in health system، the necessity of holding the training sessions about physical activity and walking at health centers has been much more evident.