A Behavioral Intervention for Pain Catastrophizing in Primary Dysmenorrhea

Inclusion Criteria:

- Female ages 16-25 years

- Self-reported menstrual cycle averaging 24-32 days

- Menstrual pain rating of ≥4 on the Numeric Rating Scale for at least the previous
three menstrual cycles prior to participation

- Written informed consent or assent (if a minor, parent must also provide written
parental permission)

- Able to read and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

- Use of oral contraceptives or any exogenous hormones in the previous 3 months

- Presence of persistent pelvic pain throughout the menstrual cycle

- Acute illness or injury that may impact lab performance or that affects sensitivity of
the extremities

- Diagnosis of an underlying medical cause for dysmenorrhea symptoms

- No or minimal menstrual pain (NRS rating of ≤ 3) during any of the 3 previous cycles
prior to study participation

- Daily use of opioids; participants using other analgesics will be included, but will
be asked not to take these analgesics on the days of the lab sessions

- Developmental delay, autism, or significant anatomic impairment that may preclude
understanding of study procedures