Menstruation and menstrual symptoms includes affective, social and somatic symptoms that
occur around the time of menses. Because of recent concerns about non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs). Today, there is a great tendency to use complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM), for the relief of dysmenorrhea such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS).
Objective: Explore the effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on menstrual
symptoms among adolescent girls. Setting: The study was conducted at Technical Institute of Nursing
named “Dar Ismail" affiliated to the Ministry of Health and Population in Alexandria city. Subjects:
The sample comprised 100 eligible female students who were suffering from moderate to severe
primary dysmenorrhea. They were assigned equally into 2 groups: study group and control group.
Tools: Three tools were validated and used for data collection; Students' Basic Data Structured
Interview Schedule, Visual Analogue Pain Intensity Scale, and Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire.
Results: The main study findings show that, before intervention there was no statistically significant
difference between the study and control groups regarding the severity of primary dysmenorrhea and
its associated symptoms. Yet, students who received TENS application showed significantly reduction
on the severity of dysmenorrhea pain (P<0.004& p=0.009& p=0.047) as well as daily life activities
than control group, after intervention. On the other hand the severity of nausea /vomiting, dizziness/
tired were significantly improved among study than control group at first and third day of intervention
(P< P<0.043& p=0.001) & (P<0.001, p=0.040) & (P<0.004& p=0.003). As same as, depression
and loss of interest after one hour at first and third day of intervention between study and control
group. Conclusion: It was concluded that TENS application is effective in alleviating menstrual pain
and its related symptoms. Recommendations: It is important to have safe TENS therapies for the relief
of menstrual problems.