High-Intensity Interval Training and Menstrual Health Experience in Primary Dysmenorrhea.

NCT07391930 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: EPP-2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether a 12-week online supervised high-intensity interval training program can reduce menstrual pain and improve quality of life in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Participants will be divided into two groups: one receiving an educational workshop and the HIIT program, and a control group receiving only the workshop. Additionally, the study seeks to understand the personal experience of these women through weekly health diaries, exploring how the intervention affects their relationship with their bodies and their menstruation. The ultimate goal is to offer new, non-pharmacological evidence-based tools for managing menstrual pain.

Conditions

Dysmenorrhea Primary; Menstrual Pain; Pelvic Pain

Keywords

High- Intensity Interval Training; Quality of Life; Menstrual Health; Therapeutic Exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Menstrual Pain Intensity

  Measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable." Participants will report their peak pain intensity during their menstrual period.

  Baseline (Month 0), Post-intervention (Month 3), and Follow-up (Month 6, Month 9)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Health-Related Quality of Life

  Baseline (Month 0), Post-intervention (Month 3), and Follow-up (Month 6, Month 9)

• Participant Menstrual Health Experience and Self-Management.

  Weekly during the 12-week intervention period

• Quality of Sleep

  Baseline (Month 0), Post-intervention (Month 3), and Follow-up (Month 6, Month 9)

• Levels of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

  Baseline (Month 0), Post-intervention (Month 3), and Follow-up (Month 6, Month 9).

• Work Productivity and Activity Impairment

  Baseline (Month 0), Post-intervention (Month 3), and Follow-up (Month 6, Month 9).

Study Arms (2)

High-Intensity Interval Training as Therapeutic Exercise + Menstrual Health Education Workshop

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will receive a 2-hour online menstrual health education workshop and will perform 2 sessions per week of supervised online High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) for 12 weeks. They will also complete weekly qualitative diaries.

Behavioral: Supervised Online HIIT Program; Behavioral: Menstrual Health Workshop

Menstrual Health Education Workshop

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm will receive the same 2-hour online menstrual health education workshop and will complete the same weekly qualitative diaries, but will not perform the HIIT program during the 12-week study period.

Behavioral: Menstrual Health Workshop

Interventions

Supervised Online HIIT Program BEHAVIORAL

The intervention consists of a total of 24 exercise sessions delivered over 12 weeks (frequency: 2 sessions per week). Each session is conducted online and supervised in real-time by a physical therapist. The 24 sessions follow a structured progression of high-intensity intervals, separated by active recovery periods.

High-Intensity Interval Training as Therapeutic Exercise + Menstrual Health Education Workshop

Menstrual Health Workshop BEHAVIORAL

A 2-hour online educational session covering menstrual cycle physiology, pain neurophysiology, and self-care strategies. This intervention aims to improve menstrual health literacy and provide tools for pain self-management

High-Intensity Interval Training as Therapeutic Exercise + Menstrual Health Education Workshop; Menstrual Health Education Workshop

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• nulliparous
• primary dysmenorrhea
• body mass index between 18 and 30
• menstrual pain \>5 according to the Numeric Pain Scale
• exercise \>45 minutes/week
• understand Spanish and can freely read and sign the informed consent form

You may not qualify if:

• amenorrhea or cycles \>35 days
• secondary dysmenorrhea
• pelvic or abdominal surgical intervention
• use of hormonal drugs
• diagnosed with fibromyalgia, muscoloskeletal injuries or medical comorbidities that prevent them from performing intense exercise
• receiving physiotherapy for pelvic floor disorders
• intense exercise \>75 minutes/week

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alcala: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Enfermeria y Fisioterapia

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, 28801, Spain

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dysmenorrhea; Pelvic Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Menstruation Disturbances; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Beatriz Navarro Brazalez, PhD

  Universidad de Alcala

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Esther M Pindado Perez, PhD Student

CONTACT

+34 689714447; esther.pindado@edu.uah.es

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD Student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 29, 2026
• First Posted: February 6, 2026
• Study Start: February 18, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2029
• Last Updated: April 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

ES (1)