Crossover study of glyceryl trinitrate patches for controlling pain in women with severe dysmenorrhoea

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Primary dysmenorrhoea affects up to half of postpubescent women and is one of the commonest gynaecological complaints. Combined oral contraceptives and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often used to treat dysmenorrhoea but are not effective in 10-20% of patients1 and are contraindicated or unsuitable for many others. There is a need for a simple and safe new treatment for this condition. The pain of dysmenorrhoea is associated with increased intrauterine resting pressures and peak pressures,2 and effective treatment is associated with uterine relaxation.3 Glyceryl trinitrate seems to relax uterine contractions in preterm labour,4 and we investigated whether it could be used to treat dysmenorrhoea. We enrolled 14 women in a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, two period crossover trial for two successive menstrual cycles. All had persistent and regular severe dysmenorrhoea which …