The PHYSIOLOGY OF MENSTRUAL PAIN AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TECHNOLOGY-BASED PAIN MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea or menstrual pain significantly affects the quality of life for many women, necessitating effective and non-invasive pain management strategies. This study systematically reviewed existing literature on the physiological causes of menstrual pain and the effectiveness of technology-based pain relief techniques. The review shows that menstrual pain is mainly regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis, with prostaglandins and inflammatory cytokines playing key roles. Also, stress and anxiety can amplify menstrual discomfort. It also uncovers several technology-based interventions for effective pain management, including Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), heat therapy, mobile apps, virtual reality (VR), and wearable tech. However, potential risks and limitations of these interventions, such as overreliance, data security, limited accessibility, varying effectiveness, cost, user acceptance, and lack of human contact, were also identified. Despite these limitations, technology-based pain management techniques represent promising non-invasive alternatives for managing menstrual discomfort. Additional high-quality research is needed to further validate the efficacy of these approaches and address potential risks.