Effect of inhalation aromatherapy with neroli oil on pain reduction of the primary dysmenorrhea: A clinical trial study

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea, characterized by abdominal pain during menstruation resulting from uterine contraction and ischemia, affects approximately 50% of women.Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of inhalation aromatherapy with neroli oil on the pain reduction of dysmenorrhea.Methods: This two-group randomized clinical trial (non-blinded due to odor) was conducted in 2021 among 70 students of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences with primary dysmenorrhea.Participants were randomly assigned to the neroli oil or placebo group using numbers 1-70 generated at www.graphpad.com.Each was followed over four menstrual cycles: during the first two, pain intensity was recorded using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) without treatment; during the next two, inhalation aromatherapy with 2% neroli oil or placebo was applied once daily for 30 minutes on the first two days of menstruation.Data were analyzed in SPSS 26 using repeated measures ANOVA and independent ttests.Results: A significant difference in pain severity was observed between the two groups following the intervention, during both the first (t = 3.77, p = .001)and second cycles (t = 4.07, p < .001).In the intervention group, the mean pain intensity (SD) decreased from 6.58 (0.95) and 6.19 (0.98) before the intervention to 2.83 (0.68) and 2.32 (0.79) afterwards.Similarly, in the control group, pain scores reduced from 6.29 (1.18) and 6.16 (1.03) to 3.64 (1.14) and 3.35 (1.17), respectively. Conclusion:In conclusion, Neroli oil aromatherapy appears to be effective in reducing the pain intensity associated with primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Implications for Nursing and Midwifery Preventive Care Inhalation aromatherapy is an effective non-pharmacological method for managing menstrual pain. Complementary therapies help reduce dependence on pharmaceutical analgesics and their side effects. Safe and accessible pain management strategies improve daily functioning and overall quality of life.