DysmenorrheaNCT07544511
Effect of Hand Massage Stimulation on Pain and Menstrual Symptoms in Primary Dysmenorrhea
A study testing seed threrapy (su-jok) in people with Dysmenorrhea, run by Inonu University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Purpose of this study: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of hand massage stimulation techniques on pain, daily menstrual symptoms and nausea and vomiting in primary dysmenorrhea. H1a: Hand massage stimulation techniques reduce pain in primary dysmenorrhea. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Dysmenorrhea
- What is being tested?
- seed threrapy (su-jok)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2025to 1 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Participant who is 18 years or older
- Participant diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea by a gynecologist
- Participant who has had regular menstruation in the last 6 months
- Participant whose menstrual pain continues for 8-72 hours
Who cannot join
- Participant who is pregnant
- Participant who has given birth before or has a history of pregnancy
- Participant using intrauterine or oral contraceptives
- Participant who is taking any anti-inflammatory, analgesic and psychotherapeutic medication
- Participant with any history of pelvic pathology or pelvic surgery
- Participant with any neurological or systemic disease
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
İnönü University Faculty of Health Sciences
Malatya
About this study
Purpose of this study: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of hand massage stimulation techniques on pain, daily menstrual symptoms and nausea and vomiting in primary dysmenorrhea.
H1a: Hand massage stimulation techniques reduce pain in primary dysmenorrhea. H1b: Hand massage stimulation techniques reduce daily menstrual symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea.
The data were collected from students suffering from primary dysmenorrhea pain studying at İnönü University Faculty of Health Sciences. Seed therapy (su-jok) will be applied by researcher Melike TAN ÇELİK who has a basic level su-jok therapy certificate.
Read the detailed description
The aim of this study is to determine the effect of hand massage stimulation techniques on pain, daily menstrual symptoms and nausea and vomiting in primary dysmenorrhea.
Data will be collected from students experiencing Primary Dysmenorrhea at İnönü University Faculty of Health Sciences. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria and agree to participate will be informed about the study, and participants who fill out the "Minimum Informed Consent Form" will be included in the study. Data collection forms will be applied by the researcher, paying attention to student privacy, and the pre-test data collection phase will be completed. After the pre-test data collection phase is completed, hand stimulation techniques (su-jok seed therapy) will be applied by the researcher to the students experiencing primary dysmenorrhea in the experimental group. Students experiencing primary dysmenorrhea will be given detailed information about the application in the laboratory at the faculty, and pain points will be determined according to the reflections of the organs on the hand. Black pepper seeds, one of the seeds used in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, will be placed on the detected points and removed after 5-6 hours. This application will be done a total of 3 times in each cycle, on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day of the menstrual cycle. A total of 2 cycles of application will be made, the first menstrual cycle being the 1st cycle, and the final test data will be collected 5-6 hours after each application. This intervention will be carried out by Melike Tan, and the researcher has a basic level Su Jok therapy certificate. No intervention will be applied to the students experiencing primary dysmenorrhea in the control group, but the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Daily Menstrual Symptom Assessment Scale (GMDSS) will be administered simultaneously to the experimental group.
- Conditions
- Dysmenorrhea
- Being tested
- seed threrapy (su-jok)
- Keywords
- dysmenorrhea, pain, menstrual symptoms
- Medical subject headings
- Dysmenorrhea, Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
seed threrapy (su-jok)Other
In hand massage, tiny swellings called "ball conformity" occur on the reflection points of the organs where the complaint occurs on the hands and feet. It is argued that the sensitivity of the relevant point to pressure has a direct correlation with the level of pain in the body part. A rod called a "diagnostic probe" or "diagnostic rod" made of metal, plastic or wood, approximately ten centimeters long, is used to detect the painful point on the hand and foot. After the correct point is detected, various techniques are applied to stimulate these points and ensure the continuation of the energy flow.In this study, the seed massage technique, which does not cause any side effects among the hand massage stimulation methods, requires a basic level certificate for its use, does not require being a health professional, and can be easily applied by anyone, will be used. Seed massage is a method applied by first detecting pain through a probe on the points of the organs reflected on the hand
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| seed therapy ( su-jok) | Experimental | Group that received seed therapy ( su- jok ) Receives: Other: seed threrapy (su-jok) |
| standard maintenance | No intervention | group not receiving seed therapy ( su- jok) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Description: VAS is a scale created in the range of 0-10 cm. According to the scale, 0 cm means the pain is not severe at all, and 10 cm means unbearable pain. On the scale, 0-44 mm indicates mild pain, 45-74 mm indicates moderate pain, and 75-100 mm indicates severe pain.
Time Frame: At baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of seed therapy.
Measured: At baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of seed therapy]
Secondary outcomes (1)
Daily Menstrual Symptom Assessment Scale (DMSA)
The GMMSS was developed by Taylor in 1979 to assess symptoms and their severity during menstruation. The Turkish validity and reliability of the scale were established by Oskay et al. in 2008. The scale consists of seventeen items, with each symptom severity scored between 0 and 5, and there are no subscales. An increase in the score indicates an increase in symptom severity. In Oskay et al.'s study, the Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was found to be 0.88.
[Time Frame: Initially (before intervention) and immediately after completion of insemination treatment]
Measured: At baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of seed therapy]
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Apr 2026
- Study start1 Sep 2025
- Primary completion1 May 2026
- Study completion1 Sep 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for DysmenorrheaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Inonu UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- Crossover Assignment randomized controlled trial conducted with experimental and control groups.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Inonu University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Melike TAN ÇELİK, Inonu University
- Investigators
- Esra GÜNEY, PhD, Principal investigator, Inonu University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07544511
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 7879
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Research results will be shared
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Hand Massage Stimulation on Pain and Menstrual Symptoms in Primary Dysmenorrhea
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07544511
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 7879
- Conditions
- Dysmenorrhea
- Keywords
- dysmenorrhea, pain, menstrual symptoms
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Inonu UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Sep 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Purpose of this study: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of hand massage stimulation techniques on pain, daily menstrual symptoms and nausea and vomiting in primary dysmenorrhea.
H1a: Hand massage stimulation techniques reduce pain in primary dysmenorrhea. H1b: Hand massage stimulation techniques reduce daily menstrual symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea.
The data were collected from students suffering from primary dysmenorrhea pain studying at İnönü University Faculty of Health Sciences. Seed therapy (su-jok) will be applied by researcher Melike TAN ÇELİK who has a basic level su-jok therapy certificate.
Detailed description
The aim of this study is to determine the effect of hand massage stimulation techniques on pain, daily menstrual symptoms and nausea and vomiting in primary dysmenorrhea.
Data will be collected from students experiencing Primary Dysmenorrhea at İnönü University Faculty of Health Sciences. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria and agree to participate will be informed about the study, and participants who fill out the "Minimum Informed Consent Form" will be included in the study. Data collection forms will be applied by the researcher, paying attention to student privacy, and the pre-test data collection phase will be completed. After the pre-test data collection phase is completed, hand stimulation techniques (su-jok seed therapy) will be applied by the researcher to the students experiencing primary dysmenorrhea in the experimental group. Students experiencing primary dysmenorrhea will be given detailed information about the application in the laboratory at the faculty, and pain points will be determined according to the reflections of the organs on the hand. Black pepper seeds, one of the seeds used in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, will be placed on the detected points and removed after 5-6 hours. This application will be done a total of 3 times in each cycle, on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day of the menstrual cycle. A total of 2 cycles of application will be made, the first menstrual cycle being the 1st cycle, and the final test data will be collected 5-6 hours after each application. This intervention will be carried out by Melike Tan, and the researcher has a basic level Su Jok therapy certificate. No intervention will be applied to the students experiencing primary dysmenorrhea in the control group, but the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Daily Menstrual Symptom Assessment Scale (GMDSS) will be administered simultaneously to the experimental group.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Crossover Assignment randomized controlled trial conducted with experimental and control groups.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| seed therapy ( su-jok) | Experimental | Other: seed threrapy (su-jok)Group that received seed therapy ( su- jok ) |
| standard maintenance | No intervention | –group not receiving seed therapy ( su- jok) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Participant who is 18 years or older
- Participant diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea by a gynecologist
- Participant who has had regular menstruation in the last 6 months
- Participant whose menstrual pain continues for 8-72 hours
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Participant who is pregnant
- Participant who has given birth before or has a history of pregnancy
- Participant using intrauterine or oral contraceptives
- Participant who is taking any anti-inflammatory, analgesic and psychotherapeutic medication
- Participant with any history of pelvic pathology or pelvic surgery
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| seed threrapy (su-jok)In hand massage, tiny swellings called "ball conformity" occur on the reflection points of the organs where the complaint occurs on the hands and feet. It is argued that the sensitivity of the relevant point to pressure has a direct correlation with the level of pain in the body part. A rod called a "diagnostic probe" or "diagnostic rod" made of metal, plastic or wood, approximately ten centimeters long, is used to detect the painful point on the hand and foot. After the correct point is detected, various techniques are applied to stimulate these points and ensure the continuation of the energy flow.In this study, the seed massage technique, which does not cause any side effects among the hand massage stimulation methods, requires a basic level certificate for its use, does not require being a health professional, and can be easily applied by anyone, will be used. Seed massage is a method applied by first detecting pain through a probe on the points of the organs reflected on the hand | Other | seed therapy ( su-jok) |
Primary outcome
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time frame: At baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of seed therapy]
Description: VAS is a scale created in the range of 0-10 cm. According to the scale, 0 cm means the pain is not severe at all, and 10 cm means unbearable pain. On the scale, 0-44 mm indicates mild pain, 45-74 mm indicates moderate pain, and 75-100 mm indicates severe pain. Time Frame: At baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of seed therapy.
1 secondary outcome
Daily Menstrual Symptom Assessment Scale (DMSA)
Time frame: At baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of seed therapy]
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Oct 2026.
- reference linkLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Research results will be shared
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Esra GÜNEY, PhD principal investigator
Inonu University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing seed threrapy (su-jok) in people with Dysmenorrhea, run by Inonu University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (time frame: At baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of seed therapy]). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Oct 2026.