The effect of a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, indomethacin, on excessive uterine bleeding.

Indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor given to 94 women suffering from functional menorrhagia, IUD's and sub mucous fibroid related bleeding, reduced menstrual loss and duration of menstruation in 70 patients (74.5 percent). A significant decrease in duration of menstruation of 2.1 days was obtained in the responding group. In functional bleeding, the mean decrease was 1.7 days, in IUD's related menorrhagia 2.9 days and in menorrhagia due to submucous fibroids 2 days. Age, parity and duration of menstruation before treatment had no significant effect on the response or reduction of duration of bleeding. The medication was discontinued only in two patients because of minor gastronntestinal symptoms.