Evaluating the Effect of Oral Bromelain (Pineapple) on pain after Episiotomy in Primiparus Women

Episiotomy is the most common incision in midwifery. Perineal pain due to episiotomy has always been a distressing problem for women. Recently, there has been an increased interest in using complementary medications that has caused more attention to traditional pain redactor products such as Bromelain. The aim of present study was to determine the effect of oral bromelain on perineal pain in primiparus women. In this double-blind clinical trial that was performed in 2009 in Amir-al-momenin hospital of Ahwaz, 82 women were randomly selected and divided in two groups of bromelain or placebo and randomly received medication and placebo packages. The initial dose was given 2 hours after delivery. One tablet was given three times daily for six days. Episiotomy pain was measured by VAS scale at the first 24hr, 3th, 7th and 14th day after delivery. Number of consumed analgesic tablets was also recorded. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test using SPSS 15 test. Perineal pain significantly reduced in bromelain group at the first 24 hr and on the 3th day after delivery (P<0.05), but there weren’t significant difference between bromelain group and placebo group on the 7thday and 14th day after delivery. The number of analgesic tablets consumed had significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Bromelain has effect on episiotomy pain and reduces the consumption of analgesics; therefore, its postoperative use is suggested for pain reduction.