Effects of a heat- and steam-generating sheet on relieving symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea in young women.

Aim: To test the efficacy of heat- and steam-generating (HSG) sheets for the relief of symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea in young women. Materials & Methods: Thirty-four female university students were enrolled in this study. HSG sheets generate moist heat to keep the attached body area at 38.5 °C for 8 h. Subjects attached the HSG sheet to the lower abdominal or lumbar region for 5 to 8 h once a day on the first, second and third days of menstruation. Subjects documented symptoms of dysmenorrhea (abdominal pain, lumbago and lumbar dullness) on a self-recording form using a 4-score scale of 0 (mild) to 3 (severe) just before applying and after removing the HSG sheet. Either a small (54 cm [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]