Supportive therapy for dysmenorrhea: Time to look beyond mefenamic acid in primary care.

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea is a recurrent and chronic primary health care issue. Mefenamic acid and NSAID based therapy regimens have unwanted side effects on its long-term usage. NSAIDs reduce pain, albeit they do not address the enhanced pain sensitivity and other neuronal symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Hence, there is a need for supportive therapy which can target both pelvic pain and the neuronal symptoms. Historically, European medicinal plants and their extracts such as, valeriana officinalis, humulus lupulus, and passiflora incarnata have been used in menstrual disorders for centuries. The current review is focused on the available evidence for its use as monotherapy or as supportive therapy in combination with other conventional medications.