[Symptomatic therapy of primary dysmonorrhea by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis with indomethacin (author's transl)].

In a controlled trial the effect of indomethacin was studied in 54 patients with primary dysmenorrhea. 34 patients were treated with 3 X 25 mg indomethacin per day orally for 5 days starting 2 days before onset of menstruation. Treatment was continued for 4 months, 20 patients received a placebo preparation. Symptoms of dysmenorrhea were reduced by 66-73% over the control group during all 4 treatment periods. 18 patients of the treated group reported complete relief from symptoms, 10 a marked improvement. Only 3 patients reported no effect of the drug, while in 3 other patients the treatment had to be discontinued due to the well-known untoward effects of indomethacin (nausea, vertigo). The therapeutic efficacy of indomethacin supports the concept of an essential role of prostaglandins in primary dysmenorrhea. The use of prostaglandin-synthetase inhibitors (aspirin-like drugs) is discussed for patient with primary dysmenorrhea who cannot be treated by contraceptive steroids.