Abstract:

The majority of women who are of reproductive age experience dysmenorrhea on a periodical basis. Dysmenorrhea is seen in 85% of women in the U.S. and 81.7% in Turkey. The level of pain may be mild but it can also be severe, and it can prevent women from attending school or work resulting in serious economic losses. Therefore, dysmenorrhea treatment has become an important issue. Many women consider dysmenorrhea to be a condition with which they can cope and do not seek medical attention. This results in using medications and complementary treatment methods without consulting health professionals. Both healthy and unhealthy individuals may use complementary treatment methods in order to promote health, prevent diseases, and support conventional medical treatment. Complementary treatments are used widely throughout the world and have become an important part of the health sector. Complementary treatment methods used for dysmenorrhea management include body therapies, mind – body techniques, vitamin and mineral supplements, and herbal therapies. However, these methods lead to positive outcomes only if they are applied correctly. It is important for these treatments to be used after consulting a health professional. Nurses who work in the elds of school, public, and women’s health can recommend complementary treatments for the management of dysmenorrhea. This article provides health professionals with an overview of the complementary treatment methods used for dysmenorrhea.

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