Vasopressin and oxytocin may cause primary dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea refers to cramping pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation. During dysmenorrhea, symptoms such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and back and leg pain may also occur. Primary dysmenorrhea is functional dysmenorrhea, but it is not accompanied by obvious pelvic organic diseases. Age, childbirth, and mental factors are all causes of primary dysmenorrhea.

Vasopressin is another important pathogenic factor of primary dysmenorrhea. The level of vasopressin is increased in women with primary dysmenorrhea. This hormone can also cause the contraction of the uterine myometrium and arterial wall smooth muscle to increase, and the uterine blood flow to decrease. Intravenous infusion of hypertonic saline can increase the secretion of vasopressin, further enhance uterine contraction, and aggravate the symptoms of dysmenorrhea. In addition, oxytocin can also cause primary dysmenorrhea. After hypertonic saline is infused into women with dysmenorrhea, the level of oxytocin in the blood also increases.

Both vasopressin and oxytocin are important factors in increasing uterine activity leading to dysmenorrhea. These two peptides work by acting on specific VI vasopressin and oxytocin receptors in the uterus. The relative importance of their effects depends on the hormonal state of the uterus. Vasopressin may also affect oxytocin receptors in the non-pregnant uterus.

Patients with dysmenorrhea can use oxytocin antagonists to competitively inhibit oxytocin and vasopressin receptors, which can effectively relieve dysmenorrhea.