The effect of yoga on pain level in primary dysmenorrhea

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of yoga on pain levels in female students with primary dysmenorrhea. This study is a randomized experimental study with control group and pretest post-test practice. This study included 60 volunteer female students (30 experimental and 30 control groups). The patients in the experimental group took part in the yoga program a total of 12 sessions, once per week for 12 weeks. "Personal Information Form", "Visual Analog Skala (VAS)" and "Dysmenorrhea Monitoring Form (DMF)" were used in data collection process. To measure dysmenorrhea pain, the students were requested to mark a number between 1 and 10 on the VAS scale according to the severity of their pain on the menstruation starting date. The yoga applications were used for three menstrual cycles. The mean age of the students in the experimental group was 20.30 ± 0.46, while the mean age of the students in the control group was 20.46 ± 0.50. The difference between the pain levels of the students in the experimental group in the first, second, third and fourth measurements was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). It was determined that the difference between the pain levels of the students in the control group in the first, second, third and fourth measurements was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Yoga can be used as an effective intervention in reducing menstrual pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea.