Prostaglandins and primary dysmenorrhoea.

In 100 patients a total of 171 PG determinations in the menstrual blood was performed under standardized conditions. The primary PGE1 and PGF2alpha were determined by RIA. The evaluation of the analysis of the sexual hormones resulted in a group with a biphasic cycle without dysmenorrhoea and a group with a biphasic cycle with dysmenorrhoea. Highly significant differences (p less than 0.01) were found in the PGF2alpha concentration in menstrual blood between a group of healthy women and one of patients with dysmenorrhoea. In dysmenorrhoea the ratio of the PGs investigated is shifted in favour of PGF2alpha. Indomethacin can decrease the PGF2alpha levels in dysmenorrhoea up to 15% (p less than 0.01). All treated patients reported that their conditions had improved. Five out of seven women were completely without any complaints.