title: Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of herbal drugs (fennelin and vitagnus) and mefenamic acid in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different therapeutic methods have been applied for the treatment of dysmenorrhea and the method with the lesser side effects is preferred. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of herbal products (fennelin and vitagnus) and mefenamic acid in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  This ouble-blind clinical trial was carried out in 105 students with mild and moderate dysmenorrhea. The students were randomly divided into four groups which received the extracts of fennelin and vitagnus, mefenamic acid, and placebo, respectively. Severity of pain was detected by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during one cycle before and two cycles after the intervention. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 and (P < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic characteristics of the students were similar in the four groups. There was no significant difference in the mean of severity of dysmenorrhea during one cycle before the intervention between the four groups, but the difference was significant during two cycles after the intervention. Fennelin had similar effects as vitagnus on dysmenorrhea. Mefenamic acid had less effect than both the drugs (P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fennelin and vitagnus had higher effect than mefenamic acid. Use of these products is suggested for dysmenorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeraati
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Research Center for Child and Maternity Care, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shobeiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Malihe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Araghchian
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, The Head of Clinical Research Center of Barij Essence, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bekhradi
keywords: Dysmenorrhea; Iran; fennelin; vitagnus