Aim: evaluate the effect of local heat application on relieving primary dysmenorrhea among nursing students. Research design: A quasi-experimental design Setting: the study was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing at Benha University. Sampling: A systematic random sample of 150 students suffered from primary dysmenorrhea was divided into two equal groups; study group who applied local heat application and control group who used their usual self-care measures. Tools of data collection: three main tools were used; modified dysmenorrhea identification sheet, structured interviewing questionnaire and visual analog scale. Results: There is no statistically significant difference between both groups regarding socio-demographic characteristics, body mass index and characteristics of menstrual pain (P> 0.05). Before local heat application, there was no statistically significant difference between both groups regarding the severity of primary dysmenorrhea. Meanwhile, after local heat application, there was a highly statistically significant difference between both groups, pain decreased in the study group compared to control group (p