Abstract: Primary dysmenorrhea(PD) is one of the most common gynecologic diseases, especially among unmarried young women. It is believed that many factors are related to the PD pathomechanism, such as the abnormally elevated levels of prostaglandin E2 and F2α, the spasm of uterine smooth muscle, the tension and stiffness of abdominal muscle, the formation of fibrous cords, and even the social psychological factors. Currently, the oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or the combined oral contraceptive pills are the main treatment for PD. However, the adverse reactions in digestion and cardiovascular system affected their clinical application. Chinese traditional medicine and modern western medicine developed many kinds of non-pharmacological methods for PD treatment. The research progress of those non-pharmacological treatment of PD, Chinese traditional medicine and modern western medicine, were introduced so as to provide a reference for the clinical practice.

Key words: Dysmenorrhea, Prostaglandins, Exercise therapy, Behavior therapy, Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, Acupuncture-moxibustion