Survey study, 1984
Which hormones cause premenstrual pain?
Higher levels of vasopressin (a hormone that makes the uterus contract) may cause premenstrual pain. Severe period pain may result from both vasopressin and prostaglandins working together.
What they did
Measured two hormones in blood samples taken before and during menstruation. Five women with premenstrual pain gave 7-9 blood samples on the day before their period started, with samples taken 30 minutes apart. Five women with severe period pain gave samples on their first day of bleeding. Two control groups of 5 women with no pain provided comparison samples.
What they found
Women with premenstrual pain had significantly higher vasopressin than the control group. Women with severe period pain had even higher and more fluctuating vasopressin levels. Women with severe period pain also had a significant rise in prostaglandin metabolites in the blood. The premenstrual pain group did not show increased prostaglandins.
What it means for you
Increased vasopressin appears to play a role in premenstrual pain. The combination of both vasopressin and prostaglandins may explain more severe period pain. The sample was extremely small (only 5 women in each group), so findings need confirmation in larger studies.
5
Women per group
7-9
Blood samples per woman
30 minutes
Time between samples
About the study
- Original title
- Vasopressin and prostaglandins in premenstrual pain and primary dysmenorrhea
- Authors
- Strömberg P, Akerlund M, Forsling ML et al.
- Journal
- Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica
- Year
- 1984
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 5
- What was tested
- None; observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/00016348409156715
Topics
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