Comparative effect of thymus vulgaris and ibuprofen on primary dysmenorrhea: A triple-blind clinical study.
BACKGROUND
Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common medical problems in gynecology causing several problems in the personal and social life of women. This study was conducted to compare the effect of thymus vulgaris and ibuprofen on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea Methods: This clinical study was conducted on 84 students of Babol University of Medical Sciences with primary dysmenorrhea. The students were randomly assigned to three groups receiving thymus vulgaris, ibuprofen and placebo. In all three groups, with the beginning of pain, 200 mg capsules and 25 drops of essential oil were given every 6 hours for two consecutive cycles. Pain intensity used the visual scale before and one hour after each dose for 48 hour after starting medication. The data were collected and analyzed. This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial (www.irct.ir) with registration number ID: IRCT201101245683N1 RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 20.5±1.8 years. Both thymus vulgaris and ibuprofen were effective to reduce the pain severity of dysmenorrhea. Before treatment, the mean pain intensity in thymus vulgaris, ibuprofen and placebo groups were 6.57±2.02, 5.30±2.23 and 6.18±1.78, respectively and after treatment decreased to 1.21±1.06, 1.48±1.62 and 3.54±2.26, respectively. Reduction of pain severity was not statistically significant between the two medications, however it was significant for each drug compared with placebo (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that thymus vulgaris as well as ibuprofen can be effective in reducing the severity of pain and spasm in primary dysmenorrhea.
Fatemeh Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Midwifery, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Hajar
H
Salmalian
Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Roshanak
R
Saghebi
Department of Pharmacology, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Ali Akbar
AA
Moghadamnia
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Ali
A
Bijani
Fatemeh Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Midwifery, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Mahbobeh
M
Faramarzi
Department of Midwifery, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Fatemeh
F
Nasiri Amiri
Department of Midwifery, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Fatemeh
F
Bakouei
Department of Midwifery, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Fereshte
F
Behmanesh
Research Development Unit of Barij Essence Kashan, Iran.
Reza
R
Bekhradi
Iboprofen; Primary dysmenorrhea; Thymus vulgaris