Zhong YY, Wang H, Wang YY. Effects of Ethnic Medicinal Plant Extracts Versus Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Menstrual Pain in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Study.
Pain Manag Nurs 2025:S1524-9042(25)00019-0. [PMID:
40016049 DOI:
10.1016/j.pmn.2025.01.006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 01/03/2025] [Accepted: 01/18/2025] [Indexed: 03/01/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to compare the pain reduction effects of ethnic medicinal plant extracts and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in women with primary dysmenorrhea.
METHODS
The following databases were searched: CNKI, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform (Wanfang), VIP Chinese Journal Service Platform (VIP), SinoMed, PubMed, and Web of Science. The retrieval period was from the time of database construction to December 2023.Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the treatment of pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea using NSAIDs in the control group and plant extracts in the intervention group were identified. The literature was independently screened by two researchers, and the quality of the literature were evaluated using Cochrane's RCT Risk Assessment Manual for Bias. The evaluation includes several aspects including random sequence generation, assignment hiding, blind method and result data reporting. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software.
RESULTS
A total of 12 literature were included. Meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference between ethnic medicinal plant extracts and NSAIDs in reducing the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores for primary dysmenorrhea (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI (-0.14, 0.78), p = .17). However, ethnic medicinal plant extracts were more effective than NSAIDs in reducing the proportion of people with pain, with a slight difference (OR = 1.75, 95% CI (1.02, 3.02), p < .05).
CONCLUSION
Ethnic medicinal plant extracts can effectively reduce the VAS pain scores in women with primary dysmenorrhea and the proportion of people with pain. The effect is comparable to or even better than that of NSAIDs, with fewer side effects. Therefore, ethnic medicinal plant extracts can be considered as a clinical option to alleviate menstrual pain.
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