Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hormonal contraceptives for pain relief from dysmenorrhea: a review

Abstract

Background: This article is a comprehensive overview of dysmenorrhea and a systematic review of the available literature on the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and hormonal contraceptives for the therapy and management of dysmenorrhea.

Study design: A comprehensive search of the PubMed database for clinical trials and observational studies of dysmenorrhea treatments from 2004 onwards.

Results: Eighteen publications were identified. Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing NSAIDs for treating primary dysmenorrhea demonstrated superior pain relief compared with placebo, but no superiority was established among different NSAIDS. Two RCTs and six nonrandomized observational or prospective studies assessing the effect of hormonal contraceptives on dysmenorrhea strongly suggest a beneficial effect for dysmenorrheic pain relief and were conducted mainly in larger populations (N=41-6169) than those in the NSAID trials (N=10-337). Ethinylestradiol/chlormadinone acetate was the only formulation that provided a more pronounced relief of dysmenorrheic pain compared with a parallel alternative or previously used hormonal contraceptive. Methodological inconsistencies were widespread between the hormonal contraceptive studies.

Conclusions: The findings of this review support the use of NSAIDs as a first-line therapy for pain relief from dysmenorrhea in women without wish for contraception. For women who wish contraception, combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are the preferential therapy for pain relief from dysmenorrhea as the additional noncontraceptive benefit of pain relief from dysmenorrhea is not linked to additional risks, eliminates the risks associated with taking NSAIDs and is a more suitable long-term option. Recommendations are made to strengthen the impact of future trials through improved methodology.