Comparison of the effectiveness of fennel and mefenamic acid on pain intensity in dysmenorrhoea

A study in Kerman, Islamic Republic of Iran in 2002 compared the effectiveness of fennel and mefenamic acid on pain relief in primary dysmenorrhoea. Two groups of high-school girls [mean age 13 years] suffering dysmenorrhoea were randomized to receive fennel extract [n = 55] or mefenamic acid [n = 55] for 2 months. In the fennel group, 80% of girls and in the mefenamic acid group, 73% of girls showed complete pain relief or pain decrease, while 80% in the fennel group and 62% in the mefenamic acid group no longer needed to rest. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the level of pain relief

[Comparison between the pain-relief effect of fennel and mefenamic acid on primary dysmenorrhea]

Dysmenorrhea is a painful menstruation, usually cramping in nature and centered in the lower abdomen. About 60% of menstruating adolescence were reported to have some degrees of dysmenorrhea and 14% regualry missed school. This semi-experimental single-blinded study was conducted to compare the effects of fennel and mefenamic acid on the severity of pain in primary dismenorrhea. The assessment was performed on 110 volunteers at high school age [Kerman province 1381]. Samples were categorized into two groups which received either fennel or mefenamic acid. Regarding the age of menarch and beginning of dysmenorrhea, there was no significant statistical difference between these two groups. The number of cases who were compeletely or partially cured, were 44 [80%] and 40 [73%] in fennel and mefenamic acid groups, respectively. At the end of the treatment, 44 subjects [80%] in fennel group and 34[62%] subjects in mefenamic acid group needed no rest. Totally, there was no significant statistical difference between these two groups. However, due to safety of herbal drugs, chemical agents can be replaced with herbal drugs