Evidence supporting the use of: Evening primrose oil
For the health condition: Dysmenorrhea

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Evening primrose oil (EPO) has a long history of traditional use for a variety of women’s health issues, including dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). The oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid believed to influence inflammatory processes and prostaglandin synthesis, both of which are implicated in menstrual pain. Traditional and alternative medicine practitioners have recommended EPO for reducing menstrual cramps, breast pain, and other premenstrual symptoms for decades.

However, the scientific evidence supporting the use of EPO specifically for dysmenorrhea is limited and of low quality. A small number of clinical trials and systematic reviews have examined its efficacy, but results are generally inconclusive or show only modest benefit. For example, a double-blind, randomized controlled trial published in 2018 (Kheirkhah et al.) suggested some reduction in pain severity in women with primary dysmenorrhea, but the sample size was small, and the study design had limitations. Larger, well-controlled studies are lacking, and systematic reviews (e.g., Cochrane) often highlight insufficient evidence to recommend EPO for menstrual pain.

In summary, while evening primrose oil is traditionally used to support dysmenorrhea and is considered safe for most users, robust scientific validation is lacking. Its use for this purpose is supported more by tradition and anecdotal reports than by high-quality clinical evidence.

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