Intrauterine pressure changes during dysmenorrhea therapy.

The treatment of primary spasmodic dysmenorrhea with prostaglandin synthetase/receptor site inhibitors such as mefenamic acid (Ponstel) is becoming accepted. Recent improvements in intrauterine pressure recording have made the acquisition of reliable, physiologic data possible. These data have been used to provide objective evaluation of the effectiveness of drug therapy as part of a larger subjective investigation. Analysis of these data shows that mefenamic aid causes rapid, dramatic reductions in parameters of uterine pressure and work. Complete loss of uterine contractile activity was found in 46.2% of patients. Subjective relief was obtained in all patients receiving mefenamic acid in this sample.