Comparison of the pain pressure threshold on the pelvic floor in women with and without primary dysmenorrhea

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Primary dysmenorrhea is characterized as menstruation with painful conditions in women with no associated pathologies, whose pain sites are classically investigated in the abdomen. However, it is known that the pelvic floor can also be compromised by primary dysmenorrhea and can be a source of hyperactivity of this musculature. The objective of this study was to compare the pain pressure threshold in the pelvic floor of women with and without primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: An observational, quantitative and cross-sectional study was conducted with young women. The sample consisted of 20 women divided into two groups: with primary dysmenorrhea (n=10) and without primary dysmenorrhea (n=10). The Adapted Assessment Questionnaire was applied for the data collection on the characteristics of the menstrual cycle followed by an evaluation of the pressure threshold of the pelvic floor of the participants using the Microfet 2 HHD manual dynamometer. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in pressure pain threshold between the groups on the left side (p=0.156) and right side (p=0.198) of the pelvic floor. CONCLUSION: In this women sample, the occurrence or non-occurrence of primary dysmenorrhea was not associated with an increase in the pain pressure threshold of the pelvic floor