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Background: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a common gynecological condition causing depression. Acupuncture is an effective option for PD management but its effects on PD-associated depression remain unclear., Methods: A retrospective cohort study involving 35,099 propensity score-matched pairs of acupuncture users and non-users with PD was conducted using data from Taiwan's Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database 2000. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate depression risk, and bioinformatics analyses were performed to uncover underlying molecular mechanisms., Results: The risk of developing depression was reduced by 64 % in acupuncture users compared with non-acupuncture users during the 19-year follow-up period. The decrease was dose-dependent. Bioinformatics analyses identified 34 co-expressed targets for acupuncture, PD, and depression; and eight hub genes (coding for interleukin 6 and 1B, tumor necrosis factor, albumin, vascular endothelial growth factor A, C-reactive protein, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor) potentially involved in the therapeutic effects of acupuncture. Several molecular pathways were found to be involved, including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, serotonergic synapse, and estrogen signaling pathway., Limitations: Bias in the selection of participants could have been introduced as a consequence of the retrospective nature of the study. Data were derived from a single national database, and acupuncture treatment details were unavailable., Conclusion: Acupuncture may protect against the development of depression in patients with PD. This study provides insight into the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of acupuncture in PD management and depression prevention., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, and analysis, the decision to publish, or the preparation of the manuscript., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dysmenorrhea is a major problem in the general gynecology clinic. It causes discomfort among healthcare staffs and significant losses in terms of time and finances., Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the affected factors of dysmenorrhea and evaluate the self-perceived efficacy of relief methods., Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used to collect data. Participants included 586 female students enrolled at a college in southern Taiwan. Data was analyzed using a t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Scheffe test., Results: Traditional Chinese medicine pattern identifications related significantly to dysmenorrhea frequency perception. Lifestyle characteristics related significantly to dysmenorrhea level perception. Using shenghua decoction, siwu and pig blood decoction, Angelica drink, ginger, ziziphus jujube, brown sugar tea, and analgesics all related significantly to dysmenorrhea relief efficacy., Conclusions/implications for Practice: Strategies found to help relieve dysmenorrhea level perception include increasing the duration and regularity of sleep and avoiding the consumption of pungent foods. Seeking and adhering to physician recommendations can also increase dysmenorrhea self-care efficacy. Dysmenorrhea-relief courses should be improved in hospitals and schools to assist women to self-manage dysmenorrhea more effectively.

Aims: This study investigates the selection and efficacy of various strategies employed by young Taiwanese women in the self-management of dysmenorrhea., Background: Dysmenorrhea is the common gynaecological problem in reproductive-aged women. In the past, non-specific treatments such as heat and exercise were found to be less effective. Current therapies for dysmenorrhea include prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors and herbal remedies., Design: Descriptive survey., Method: The researcher-designed questionnaire listed common strategies used in Taiwan to self-manage dysmenorrhea. Content validity was applied for the determination of content items in measures. The total reliability of menstrual distress questionnaire was 0·95, menstrual symptoms questionnaire was 0·92 and coping strategies questionnaire was 0·94. The participants were asked to indicate if they used any of the methods over the past 12 months and, if so, if they were effective. Chi-square test comparisons were used to analyse the data collected., Results: Of the 616 individuals who completed the questionnaire, 570 reported experiencing dysmenorrhea at least once in the past year. Of these, 180 reported dysmenorrhea at every period and were categorised as Group I. The remaining 390 women were classified as Group II. Women in Group I used all of the listed strategies more frequently; however, they benefited less from all therapies except paracetamol. The most effective strategies in both groups were found to be paracetamol and Dang-Qui-Shao-Ya-San., Conclusions: Paracetamol and Dang-Qui-Shao-Ya-San are the most effective strategies in relieving dysmenorrhea in young Taiwanese women, while other less effective strategies are used more frequently., Relevance to Clinical Practice: Identification of the most effective therapies for dysmenorrhea among commonly used strategies will help women choose the right therapy for them. As some young, inexperienced women might take two or more medications simultaneously because of ineffectiveness, thus increasing the risk of adverse effects, this study is of critical importance in promoting the safe use of medication for self-management of dysmenorrhea., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Aim and Objectives: To examine a comparison between Hegu and Sanyinjiao matched points and Hegu, Zusanli single point on adolescent girls' menstrual distress, pain and anxiety perception., Background: Primary dysmenorrhoea is a major cause of temporary disability, with a prevalence ranging from 60-93%, depending upon the population and study. No one has yet compared the effects of single point and multiple point acupressures. Design. A single blind randomised experimental study was used., Methods: Adolescents (n = 134) randomly assigned to experimental groups Zusanli (n = 30), Hegu (n = 33) and Hegu-Sanyinjiao Matched Points (n = 36) received acupressure intervention protocol for 20 minutes, while the control group (n = 35) did not receive any acupressure intervention. Four instruments were used to collect data: (1) the Visual Analog Scale for Pain; (2) the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire Short Form; (3) the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire and (4) the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety., Results: During the six-month follow-up, acupressure at matched points Hegu and Sanyinjiao reduced the pain, distress and anxiety typical of dysmenorrhoea. Acupressure at single point Hegu was found, effectively, to reduce menstrual pain during the follow-up period, but no significant difference for reducing menstrual distress and anxiety perception was found. Zusanli acupressure had no significant effects of reducing menstrual pain, distress and anxiety perception., Conclusion: This controlled trial provides preliminary evidence that six-month acupressure therapy provides female adolescents with dysmenorrhoea benefits., Relevance to Clinical Practice: Acupressure is an effective and safe non-pharmacologic strategy for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea. We recommend the use of acupressure for self-care of primary dysmenorrhoea at Hegu and Sanyinjiao matched points and single point Hegu, as pressure placement at these points is easy for adolescent girls to learn and practice.

Aim: The purposes of this study were twofold, firstly to ascertain the relative effectiveness of the alternative drug, Si-Wu-Tang (SWT), for dysmenorrhoea treatment and secondly to compare two different timings for consumption of SWT in terms of menstrual pain., Design: A two-group time series experimental design., Methods: A total of 49 participants were alternately assigned into two study groups. The experimental group was provided with 15 g of SWT daily for seven consecutive days, subsequent to the cessation of menstrual bleeding, for two consecutive menstrual cycles and the comparison group was provided with a similar intervention as soon as menstrual bleeding was noted. The degree of menstrual pain was recorded daily using a visual analogue scale and the duration of pain was also recorded during menstrual bleeding for five consecutive menstrual cycles., Results: The results indicated that the decrease in menstrual pain levels and the duration of pain between the experimental group and the comparison group was not significant. However, the decrease in menstrual pain over the five menstrual cycles within the experimental group (from 2.07 to 1.42; 2.71 to 1.21; p < 0.05) and within the comparison group (from 1.94 to 1.23; 2.66 to 1.68; p < 0.05) were significant., Conclusions: The SWT formula has been continuously standardised for effective use as part of menstrual health and can be integrated as an alternative therapy within Western medicine., Relevance to Clinical Practice: This study provides information for health care professionals not only about the general principles of traditional Chinese medicine, but also about the selection and consumption of an appropriate SWT formula among Asian women with dysmenorrhoea. Moreover, nurses should build up a partnership with their clients of Asian origins based on the use of an alternative therapy using different assessment criteria that are related to healing and recovery based on bodily constitution balance.

Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynaecological complaint and the leading cause of recurrent short-term school absenteeism among adolescent girls. To explore adolescent girls' self-care strategies for dysmenorrhea, we conducted four focus groups in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with 23 female adolescents with primary dysmenorrhea. Thematic content analysis was used to explore and organize the data. The self-care strategies for dysmenorrhea reported by participants included reducing physical activity, modifying diet using herbal remedies or medication, applying complementary therapies, paying attention to symptom clusters of discomforts, and expressing emotions. This is the first study to describe the self-care strategies adopted by adolescent girls with dysmenorrhea in Asia. Data were analyzed in cultural contexts. Knowledge of beneficial food-related or herbal health practices can enable professionals to counsel this population more effectively.