Effectiveness of magnesium pidolate in the prophylactic treatment of primary dysmenorrhea

To evaluate Magnesium (Mg) effectiveness in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, 30 volunteer dysmenorrheic women of mean age 22.6 years were selected from the out-patients of the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Parma during the period January-December 1989. Patients affected by secondary dysmenorrhea were excluded from the trial. The women considered were asked to self-evaluate their menstrual pain for 6 subsequent cycles using the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale). In the first cycle, as control, no drug was administered; in the following ones, every woman was given 4.5 mg oral Mg Pidolate in 3 administrations daily, from the 7th day preceding the onset of menses till the 3rd day of menstruation. Data were statistically analyzed. In Mg-treated cycles compared with the control one, first day dysmenorrhea progressively decreased, with a significant drop (p < 0.05) from the 1st to the 6th cycle. A similar trend, but not statistically significant, was seen for the 2nd and 3rd day of cycle. No side effect was remarked. These data suggest Mg administration to be a reliable therapy of primary dysmenorrhea.