Symptom trajectory patterns in primary dysmenorrhea: A three-month repeated measures analysis of a pranayama intervention

Abstract

Background: Adolescent girls frequently experience primary dysmenorrhea, which is characterized by pain, emotional distress, autonomic symptoms, and behavioral abnormalities. While non-pharmacological therapies like pranayama have demonstrated promise in lessening the severity of symptoms, pharmaceutical treatments only offer short-term relief. Monthly patterns of symptom change, however, are still poorly understood. Objective: Compare the three-month course of dysmenorrhea symptoms in teenage girls who participated in a structured pranayama intervention with a control group. Methods: 48 teenage girls with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to a pranayama group (n = 24) and a control group (n = 24) in a quantitative experimental design using repeated measures. Eight MDQ domains&#39; worth of symptoms were evaluated. Over the course of 12 weeks, the experimental group practiced Anuloma-Viloma and Bhramari for 30 minutes, four days a week. Time, group, and time × group effects were investigated using Repeated Measures ANOVA. Results: In every domain, the experimental group&#39;s symptom severity consistently decreased, and there was significant time × group interactions (p < 0.05). Improvements were most pronounced for pain, negative affect, and impaired concentration. The control group exhibited minimal changes over time. Conclusions: In conclusion, a 12-week pranayama intervention shows promise as a safe, non-pharmacological method for managing menstrual health by reducing dysmenorrhea symptoms in teenage girls in a progressive and domain-specific manner