Validation of a test model of induced dysmenorrhea

Background. The myometrial hyperactivity and reduced uterine blood flow of primary dysmenorrhea is to a large extent caused by increased vasopressin secretion. A new therapeutic approach for this condition is to develop antagonists of uterine vasopressin V1a receptors. We studied a test model of vasopressin-induced dysmenorrhea in healthy, sterilized women and compared responses against those in dysmenorrheic subjects. Methods. Eight women with primary dysmenorrhea and eight sterilized, healthy women participated in recordings of intrauterine pressure and experienced pain on days 1–2 of two menstruations. We tried to identify biochemical markers in plasma of uterine ischemia. Furthermore, the effects of repeated bolus injections of 10 pmol/kg b w of vasopressin or placebo on these parameters were assessed. Results. The vasopressin injections caused statistically significant increases in the area under the intrauterine pressure curve (AUC) in both healthy volunteers and patients with dysmenorrhea, the over...