Introduction: Dysmenorrhea is a menstrual distress accompanied by many other symptoms,
such as nausea, diarrhea, headache, fatigue and mood swings. Is one of the most common
reasons for absenteeism from work or education. Can be treated pharmacologically and non
pharmacologically, although pharmacological treatment may have undesirable side effects
and contraindications. One of the non-pharmacological options is regular physical exercise,
which not only has a positive effect on dysmenorrhea, but also on the psychological, social
and spiritual areas. The women meet with a nurse at their general practitioner or
gynecologist, whose job it is to provide comprehensive, individualized and high-quality
health education. Aim: The aim of the paper is to investigate the impact of physical activity
on the relief of dysmenorrhea and associated symptoms using a literature review. Methods:
An overview of the English-language scientific literature was compiled. The literature search
was conducted in the databases CINAHL Ultimate, Pubmed, Medline and DiKul. Articles
published between 2013 and 2023 were included. Results: The results of the literature search
show a significant reduction in the intensity and duration of dysmenorrhea and associated
symptoms such as stress, anxiety, depression and poorer sleep because of releasing
endorphins and establishing hormonal balance in body. An improvement in quality of life
was also observed. However, too few studies have shown a reduction in symptoms
associated with dysmenorrhea such as vomiting, nausea and fatigue. Discussion: Physical
activity in adolescent girls helps to improve the intensity and duration of dysmenorrhea and
also alleviates many associated symptoms. Physical activity also contributes to an
improvement in physical, psychological and social functioning while improving quality of
life. A nurse or midwife also plays an important role in the treatment or relief of
dysmenorrhea. The nurse provides health education to patients, encourages them to change
their lifestyle and liaises with other medical services. Future research should continue to
investigate the effect of physical activity on the relief of dysmenorrhea and associated
symptoms.
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