Prostaglandins and dysmenorrhea. Historical survey

This survey traces the development of the main ideas and experimental findings on the function of endometrial prostaglandins in stimulating the expulsive contractions of the myometrium during normal menstruation, and the effect of excessive action of this nature in producing dysmenorrhea. Some observations are also given on the 'menotoxin', an unidentified substance which is toxic to certain plants and which may or may not prove relevant to gynecology. Areas where further fundamental work is needed are suggested. The survey is not a complete review of the topic, which would need a much longer paper.