Aromatherapy for menstrual pain and premenstrual symptoms in women and adolescent girls: a scoping review

Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecological disorders among women and can negatively affect quality of life. Its prevalence varies across regions, reaching 75.9% in Zimbabwe, 92.9% in France, 91.27% nationally in Indonesia, and approximately 74% among 43 adolescent girls in Denpasar. Aromatherapy is a complementary intervention used to alleviate menstrual pain and premenstrual symptoms. This scoping review aimed to identify the effectiveness of aromatherapy in reducing menstrual pain and premenstrual symptoms among adolescent girls and women. A scoping review was conducted using four databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate. Articles were selected based on the following inclusion criteria: original research articles published between 2015 and 2025, written in Indonesian or English, involving participants aged 12–24 years who experienced premenstrual symptoms, and addressing aromatherapy for menstrual pain. Of 6,859 identified articles, seven met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool 2018 (MMAT) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) appraisal tools. The seven included studies showed that aromatherapy can reduce dysmenorrhea intensity and menstrual symptoms. Lavender and rose aromatherapy demonstrated beneficial effects, whereas the effects of lemon and grapefruit aromatherapy varied. Dysmenorrhea intensity was also associated with several factors, including stress, anxiety, age at menarche, and body mass index. Aromatherapy has potential as a complementary non-pharmacological therapy to help reduce menstrual pain. However, physical and psychological factors should also be considered, and further research involving comparable participant groups across diverse populations and settings globally is needed.