Background & Aim: Primary dysmenorrhea is a common problem among women in the child-bearing age. This study was designed to compare the analgesic effects of extra virgin olive oil and Ibuprofen on amount of bleeding and duration of menstrual cycles in primary dysmenorrhea.

Materials & Methods: In a crossover randomized controlled trial 60 university girl students (17-30 years old) in Boroojerd Islamic Azad University dormitory with the diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea were selected by available sampling and divided randomly into 2 groups, receiving extra virgin olive oil (Group 1) and Ibuprofen (Group 2).

The subjects in group 1 took 25 cc of extra virgin olive oil daily for 2 months (starting two weeks before the start of the menstruation cycle), after 4weeks washout period they received 400 mg Ibuprofen three times a day in the first 3 days of menstruation. Group 2 was treated basically similarly, except that they received Ibuprofen during the two first cycle and extra virgin olive oil during the two second cycle. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software and using ANOVA with a crossover design.

Results: Extra virgin Olive oil and ibuprofen have reduced the amount of the blood the end of study (p<0/05). There were no significance differences between two groups.

Conclusion: Extra virgin olive oil is effective in reducing menstrual bleeding and it seems that it can be used as a substitute for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.