A ROLE FOR PROSTACYCLIN (PGI 2) IN EXCESSIVE MENSTRUAL BLEEDING

Abstract

The synthesis of prostanoids from arachidonic acid incubated with endometrium alone or together with myometrium was studied in women with excessive menstrual blood-loss (range 57-186 ml, median 86 ml). Production of prostaglandins F 2α, E 2, and D 2 was similar to that observed for the endometrium of women with normal periods (range 5-50 ml; median 11 ml). However, the endometrium from women with excessive menstrual blood-loss was more effective than endometrium from women with normal menstrual blood-loss at enhancing the production by a control preparation of myometrium of 6-oxo-prostaglandin F 1α, the stable metabolite of pro-