OBJECTIVES: Primaer dysmenorrhoea is one of the most common gynecological complaints, although women who suffer from menstrual cramps often take pain killers and antispasmodics only. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of Jacobson’s progressive relaxation therapy (PR) and Kegel’s perineal muscle exercises (PME) on reducing menstrual cramps during primaer dysmenorrhoea, to evaluate the questionnaires filled before and after treatments, and to determine the effectiveness of a 5-week therapy.

METHODS: A prospective, longitudinal study was carried out with non-probability targeted sampling. Our sample consisted of 12 young QĘ-s suffering from primaer dysmenorrhoea. They were randomly divided into two groups: one got PR while the other got PME therapy twice a week for five weeks. Our study was carried out at the University of Pécs, Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. During data collection questionnaiers were filled out before and after treatments (socio-demographic and anthropometric data, Visual Analogue Scale=VAS, EQ-5D, Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire=MSQ). FemiScan was used for measuring perineal muscle strength. We calculated descriptive statistics and paired samples t-test (significance level: p<0.05) with MS Office Excel 2016.

RESULTS: VAS points showed a significant decrease in both groups (PR: p=0.001; PME: p=0.03), as well as EQ-5D (PR: p=0.0008; PME= p=0.0029), and MSQ points (PR: p<0.001; GIT: p<0.001). Data of perineal muscle measurement also changed significantly, except for speed (p=0.078098).

CONCLUSIONS: We can conlude after seeing the results of 12 treated QĘ-s that progressive relaxation and perineal muscle exercises can be effective in treating primaer dysmenorrhoea.