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Primary dysmenorrhea affects as many as 90% of reproductive-aged women, causing cyclic pain that negatively affects quality of life. Treatment aimed at reducing or preventing menstrual bleeding (along with the associated overproduction of prostaglandins) should be beneficial. Researchers in Croatia and the U.S. conducted a 6-month trial to assess the efficacy of continuous versus cyclic oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for menstrual pain relief in 29 women (age range, 18–35) with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea. Subjects were randomized to receive combined OCPs containing 0.075 mg of the progestin gestodene (not available in the U.S.) plus 20 µg ethinyl estradiol in either a cyclic regimen (21 days of active pills and 7 days of inert…