Graded Motor Imagery for Primary Dysmenorrhea (NCT07618832) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Graded Motor Imagery for Primary Dysmenorrhea
Pakistan81 participantsStarted 2026-04-06
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if graded motor imagery can reduce pain sensitivity and period pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea (painful periods with no medical cause).
The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Is there a decrease in pressure pain threshold (increased pain sensitivity) with graded motor imagery?
2. Is the intensity of menstrual pain reduced by graded motor imagery?
3. Is GMI helpful to reduce menstrual symptoms and pain catastrophizing (negative thinking about pain)?
Researchers will compare full GMI (active intervention), a sham GMI(inactive intervention), and a wait-list (no intervention) to see if GMI works better than the alternatives.
Participants will:
1. Take part in a 6-week graded motor imagery program, sham program, or no intervention control.
2. Do laterality recognition, motor imagery, and mirror therapy exercises in the graded motor imagery group.
3. Complete pain and symptom assessments before and after the program, and again at follow-up.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 30 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Female sex (aged 18-30 years)
. Diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea confirmed by a physician (painful menstruation for ≥6 consecutive cycles, in the absence of identifiable pelvic pathology on clinical and/or ultrasound evaluation)
. Pain ≥4/10 NRS experienced during the last period.
. Confirmed altered pressure pain threshold: PPT ≥2 standard deviations below published norms for age-matched healthy women, measured at baseline assessment
. Regular menstrual cycle (21-35 days)
. Capable of engaging in virtual video sessions and taking online tests.
. Consent to withhold new analgesic or hormonal treatments during the study period.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Pain Pressure Threshold
Timeframe: Baseline, post-intervention at 6 weeks, and 4-week follow-up.
2
Menstrual pain intensity
Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks post-intervention, and 4-week follow-up.