This study aims to determine the comparison of prostaglandin and endorphin levels in adolescents with primary dysmenorrhea with and without warm (37-40oC) and cold (18-20oC) hydrotherapy. This quasi-experimental study with a post-test only controls group design was carried out in Islamic Boarding Schools with a sample of 36 young girls divided into 3 groups: 12 teens given warm hydrotherapy, 12 teens given cold hydrotherapy and 12 teens not given intervention (control). Blood plasma is taken after an intervention is given on the first day of menstruation. Examination of prostaglandin and endorphins levels using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit method. After cold hydrotherapy, the mean levels of prostaglandins in the cold hydrotherapy group were twice higher (569 pg/ml) compared to controls (394 pg/ml). The mean prostaglandin level in the warm hydrotherapy group also showed an increase prostaglandin (437 pg/ml) compared to the control (394 pg/ml). In addition to increasing levels of prostaglandins, increased levels of endorphins also occurred in the group given warm hydrotherapy (154 pg/ml) and the group was given cold hydrotherapy (187 pg/ml) compared to the control (119 pg/ml) p = 0.001. The conclusion in this study is that warm and cold hydrotherapy can increase levels of prostaglandins and endorphins in adolescents with primary dysmenorrhea. However, cold hydrotherapy increases endorphin levels higher than warm hydrotherapy.
Key words: Prostaglandin, Endorphin, Hydrotherapy, Primary Dismenorrhea.