In a study by Akin et al,33 investigating the effectiveness
of heat patches and ibuprofen in relieving dysmenorrhea,
the pain severity during 2 days of menstruation was evaluated
through 12 hours. The pain reduction in the heat
patch plus ibuprofen group and the placebo patch plus
ibuprofen group was similar during the 2 days (P 5 .096). In
addition, a significant difference existed between the
groups regarding the pain levels at the third and fourth
hours of the intervention.