The Effect of Roselle Tea (Hibiscus Sabdariffa L.) on Prostaglandin F₂α Levels and Pain Intensity in Reproductive-Aged Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common reproductive health problem among women of reproductive age and is closely associated with increased prostaglandin F₂α production, which induces uterine contractions, vasoconstriction, ischemia, and menstrual pain. Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) contains bioactive compounds with potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of roselle tea on prostaglandin F₂α levels and pain intensity in women of reproductive age with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: A quasi-experimental two-group pretest-posttest design was conducted among 40 women with primary dysmenorrhea who were selected using purposive sampling and divided into intervention and control groups (n=20 each). The intervention group received 2 g of roselle tea brewed in 200 mL of warm water twice daily for three consecutive days, while the control group received 200 mL of warm water twice daily. Prostaglandin F₂α levels and pain intensity were measured at pretest, day 2, and day 3. Results: In the intervention group, mean prostaglandin F₂α levels decrease from 317.63±36.30 at pretest to 247.72±36.16 on day 2 and 183.62±47.33 on day 3 (p<0.001). Mean pain intensity also decreases from 2.35±0.489 to 2.00±0.324 and 1.10±0.718, respectively (p<0.001). The reductions are descriptively greater than those observed in the control group. Conclusion: Roselle tea shows potential as a complementary intervention for reducing prostaglandin F₂α levels and pain intensity in women with primary dysmenorrhea