Abstract
Objective
This guideline reviews the investigation and treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.
Intended Users
Health care providers.
Target Population
Women and adolescents experiencing menstrual pain for which no underlying cause has
been identified.
Evidence
Published clinical trials, population studies, and review articles cited in PubMed
or the Cochrane database from January 2005 to March 2016.
Validation Methods
Seven clinical questions were generated by the authors and reviewed by the SOGC Clinical
Practice-Gynaecology Committee. The available literature was searched. Guideline No.
169 was reviewed and rewritten in order to incorporate current evidence. Recommendations
addressing the identified clinical questions were formulated and evaluated using the
ranking of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.
Benefits, Harms, and Costs
Primary dysmenorrhea is common and frequently undertreated. Effective therapy is widely
available at minimal cost. Treatment has the potential to improve quality of life
and to decrease time lost from school or work.
Guideline Update
This guideline is a revision and update of No. 169, December 2005.
Sponsors
SOGC.
Summary Statements
- 1.Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent and commonly undertreated (III).
- 2.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are more effective than placebo but have more gastrointestinal side effects. All currently available non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are of comparable efficacy and safety (I).
- 3.Suppression of ovulation is associated with decreased menstrual pain (II-1).
- 4.Amenorrhea induced by any means is beneficial for the treatment of dysmenorrhea (II-2).
- 5.Hysterectomy is effective treatment (II-2).
- 6.There is some evidence to support laparoscopic nerve ablation in selected cases (II-1).
- 7.Endometrial ablation is likely to reduce symptoms of dysmenorrhea when it occurs in the presence of menorrhagia (I).
Recommendations
- 1.Both primary and secondary dysmenorrhea are likely to respond to the same medical therapy. Therefore, initiation of treatment should not depend on establishing a precise diagnosis (II-1A).
- 2.Health care providers should include specific questions regarding menstrual pain when obtaining a woman's medical history (III-B).
- 3.A pelvic examination is not necessary prior to initiating therapy (III-D).
- 4.A pelvic examination is indicated in patients not responding to conventional therapy and when organic pathology is suspected (III-B).
- 5.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, administered with regular dosing regimens, should be considered first-line treatment for most women (I-A).
- 6.Hormonal therapies should be offered to women and girls who are not currently planning pregnancy unless contraindications exist (I-A).
- 7.Continuous or extended use combined hormonal contraceptives are recommended (I-A).
- 8.Regular exercise is likely to improve symptoms of dysmenorrhea and should be recommended (II-1A).
- 9.Local heat in the form of heated pads or patches should be recommended as a complementary treatment for dysmenorrhea (I-A).
- 10.High-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation should be considered as a complementary treatment or in women unable or unwilling to use conventional therapy (II-1B).
- 11.Acupoint stimulation should be considered for women wishing to use complementary or alternative therapies (II-1B).
- 12.Ginger is recommended for women wishing to use complementary or alternative therapies (I-A).
- 13.Preoperative investigations should include a detailed history and physical examination, ultrasound, and possibly magnetic resonance imaging to discover secondary causes for dysmenorrhea and to direct appropriate therapy (III-A).
- 14.Surgical intervention should only be considered if a concerted trial of medical therapy has not been successful (III-A).
Key Words
Abbreviations:
CANPAGO (Canadian Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology and Obstetrics Committee), CHC (combined hormonal contraceptive), COC (combined oral contraceptive), hfTENS (high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), LN-IUS (levonorgestrel intrauterine system), LUNA (laparoscopic uterosacral nerve ablation), NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), PSN (pre-sacral neurectomy), TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
No 345 July 2017 (Replaces No 169, December 2005)
Footnotes
This Clinical Practice Guideline has been prepared and reviewed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada Clinical Practice-Gynaecology and CANPAGO Committees and approved by the Board of the SOGC.
Disclosure statements have been received from all members of the committees.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/La Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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- Primary DysmenorrheaJournal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada Vol. 39Issue 7
- PreviewPrimary dysmenorrhea is a frequent and challenging problem in gynaecology that occurs in most, if not all, women. Dysmenorrhea, however, also has the connotation that it may be a first sign of endometriosis, which may progress and cause infertility and chronic or severe pain. Thus dysmenorrhea may require early treatment to prevent progression. Unfortunately, without a laparoscopy, diagnosis is difficult, except in the presence of a large ovarian endometriosis cyst or a large rectovaginal deep endometriosis.
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