• Spears LG

• Complementary Therapies
• Dysmenorrhea
• Manipulation, Spinal
• Premenstrual Syndrome
• Review Literature as Topic
• Women's Health

Data Sources: A search for literature reviews, case studies, laboratory research, and clinical trials from 1985-2004 was performed using the MEDLINE database. Sources of additional information included textbooks, national organizational literature and contemporary articles.

Discussion: Menstrual pain is a prevalent experience yet it is socially taboo for conversation; as such, it poses a hindrance to its management. The communication between the doctor and patient is a critical barrier point between establishing a diagnosis and determining an appropriate treatment plan. A multi-disciple treatment plan varies as much as patients themselves vary in personal experiences, needs, and preferences.

Conclusions: Medicinal prophylactics, physical therapeutics, non-acidic diets, herbal supplements, eastern therapies and the chiropractic manual adjustments of the spine are effective methods for the management of primary dysmenorrhea. The non-invasive management of primary dysmenorrhea includes the chiropractic adjustment with complimentary modalities, and other alternative health care practices. Medicinal prophylactics are invasive and pose a higher risk to long-term chemical exposure, side effects or irreversible conditions.

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