Primary dysmenorrhea and physical activity.

It has been widely claimed that exercise is beneficial to dysmenorrhea, yet solid evidence is lacking. Studies investigating this relationship have been reviewed for this paper. Most showed decreased prevalence and/or improved symptomatology with exercise. However, controlled longitudinal studies involving women with confirmed primary dysmenorrhea who are sufficiently blinded to the study objectives are necessary before a definite relationship between exercise and dysmenorrhea can be established.