Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the common gynecological diseases of women of childbearing age, which can affect the work, study, and life of patients in severe cases. From the perspective of Western medicine, primary dysmenorrhea is caused by excessive secretion of prostaglandin and contraction of uterine smooth muscle, so the treatment focus of Western medicine is oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or contraceptives, but its side effects cannot be ignored. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, primary dysmenorrhea is caused by qi-blood stagnation, so the focus of Chinese medication is dialectical treatment, which can improve qi-blood stagnation by acupuncture, decoction, moxibustion, etc., with fewer side effects and long-term clinical significance. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relevant literature about the pathogenesis and treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in recent years, and to understand the research progress of primary dysmenorrhea in Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, so as to provide a reference for clinical treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. 

Research Progress on Pathogenesis and Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea

BACKGROUND
Existing treatments for primary dysmenorrhoea (PD), such as NSAIDs, impart side effects. Ge-Gen decoction (GGD), a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown promise in treating PD, but its exact mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the efficiency of GGD in alleviating PD using a rat model to understand its precise mechanism of action.


METHODS
We established a rat model of dysmenorrhoea induced by oestradiol and oxytocin. The PD rats were administered GGD or Ibuprofen (positive control) intragastrically once daily for seven consecutive days. Serum levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α), β-endorphin (β-EP), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in uterine tissue were measured using immunohistochemical assays, and those of phosphorylated and total extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) were assessed using western blot analysis.


RESULTS
Treatment with GGD significantly reduced writhing behaviour, histopathological scores, and levels of COX-2, PGE2, and PGF2α in the serum of PD rats. Additionally, GGD increased β-EP content and inhibited ERK1/2 activation and ERα expression in uterine tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that GGD alleviates PD in rats by suppressing the COX-2-mediated release of PGE2 and PGF2α, modulating the ERα/ERK1/2/COX-2 pathway, and increasing β-EP content. These results provide insights into the potential mechanisms of GGD in treating PD and support its further investigation as an alternative therapy for this condition.

Ge-gen decoction alleviates primary dysmenorrhoea symptoms in a rat model.

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a common gynecological complaint among adolescents and young women. Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been widely used for PD treatment in China. However, the relative advantages of different CHM regimens remain uncertain. This systematic review aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of different CHMs for the treatment of PD using network meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database (CBM) from their inception to December 17, 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CHM or Chinese patent drugs with Prostaglandin Synthetase Inhibitors (PGSIs) were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. A frequentist framework network meta-analysis was performed using R (4.2.2). A total of 54 RCTs with 5,345 PD patients were included. Compared with PGSIs, Danggui Sini decoction (mean difference [MD] = -5.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] -8.64 to -3.20) and Xiangfu Siwu Decoction (MD = -4.63, 95%CI -8.37 to -0.89) reduced pain significantly.; Danggui Sini decoction (risk ratio[RR] = 1.31, 95%CI 1.12 to 1.53), Danggui shaoyao san (RR = 1.23, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.44), Siwu decoction (RR = 1.32, 95%CI 1.17 to 1.47), Taohong Siwu Decoction (RR = 1.35, 95%CI 1.14 to 1.61), and Wenjing decoction (RR = 1.33, 95%CI 1.19 to 1.52) showed significantly higher overall response rates, and Wenjing decoction could significantly reduce TCM syndrome scores (MD = -4.14, 95%CI -6.84 to -1.44), compared with PGSIs. No serious adverse events were observed. Siwu decoction and Wenjing decoction ranked as the top treatment options in terms of all outcomes of interest (P-score ranking). CHMs were associated with improved overall response rate, pain reduction, and alleviation of symptoms compared to conventional treatments for patients with PD, and no serious adverse events were observed. However, the confidence in the conclusions is limited because of the lack of high-quality trials. 

Chinese herbal medicine for primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 54 randomized controlled trials

Shaofu Zhuyu decoction for primary dysmenorrhea: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

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Shaofu Zhuyu decoction for primary dysmenorrhea: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.