Figure 1From: Use of moxibustion to treat primary dysmenorrhea at two interventional times: study protocol for a randomized controlled trialFlow chart of the trial. Participants with a diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea will be recruited at the Third Teaching Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. All participants should endure a baseline period of three menstrual cycles and inappropriate participants will be excluded. A total of 222 participants will be randomized to three groups: treatment group A (treated before the menstruation), treatment group B (treated at the onset of menstruation), or control group C (waiting list group) in a 1:1:1 ratio. The trial period will consist of three baseline menstrual cycles, three menstrual cycles of treatment, and three menstrual cycles in the follow-up period, and the outcome will be measured at every visit.Back to article page