Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Instructor, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad , Iran.
2
M.Sc. of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4
Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: Nigella sativa is one of the plants traditionally used in the treatment of dysmenorrhea, but its effect on menstrual hemorrhage has not been reported. Therefore, this study was performed with aim to compare the effects of Nigella sativa and mefenamic acid on menstrual hemorrhage.
Methods:This double-blind clinical trial was performed on 70 students with primary dysmenorrhea who were resident dormitories of in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2014. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups of mefenamic acid and Nigella sativa. The research was conducted in two stages. At first, all the students were followed for two cycles in terms of bleeding, and then each of the patients randomly received Nigella sativa or mefenamic acid capsules for two consecutive cycles. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16), and independent t-test and Friedman test. P< 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Mean bleeding before the intervention in nigella sativa group was 85.20 ±37.85 cc that increased to 85.62 ± 34.2 in the first and to 85.77 ± 31.81 in the second cycle of treatment. Mean bleeding before the intervention in mefenamic acid group was 83.77 ±38.31 and decreased to 78.05 ±32.66 in the first and to 76.85 ± 29.71 in the second cycle of treatment. Overall, two groups were not statistically significant in terms of bleeding in the first and second cycle of treatment (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Use of Nigella sativa can increase the amount of menstrual bleeding, but this increase was not significantly different with mefenamic acid.
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