Reduction of menstrual blood-loss by prostaglandin-synthetase inhibitors

Abstract

Six patients with menorrhagia due to dysfunctional uterine bleeding and one patient with an intrauterine contraceptive device were treated with prostaglandin-synthetase inhibitors in an attempt to reduce their excessive menstrual blood-loss. Mefenamic acid (six patients) or flufenamic acid (one patient) taken during menstruation for 2-3 cycles reduced menstrual loss in each patient. These preliminary observations suggest a new treatment for a common gynaecological problem and could imply that prostaglandins are involved in the aetiology of excessive menstrual blood-loss in such patients.