Prostaglandin synthase inhibitory activity in plasma of women with dysmenorrhea.

Prostaglandins have been implicated in the etiology of dysmenorrhea, and plasma levels of prostaglandin F metabolite are increased in women during dysmenorrhea episodes. We determined the prostaglandin synthase inhibitory activity of plasma obtained from the blood of women who experience moderate to severe dysmenorrhea. Blood was obtained at the onset of dysmenorrhea ("symptomatic") and during the late follicular phase of the ovarian cycle ("asymptomatic"). Prostaglandin synthase inhibitory activity in all samples was comparable to that previously found in adult women, and we found no difference in activity between the paired plasma samples, those obtained during symptomatic and asymptomatic times. Protein denaturation of the plasma by boiling also did not produce differences in prostaglandin synthase inhibition.