Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and their functions in the uteruses of primary dysmenorrhea (PD) rats by using label-free quantitative proteomics analysis.Methods The PD rat model was induced by injecting both estradiol benzoate and oxytocin. Twenty rats were equally divided into two groups: a control group (normal rats), a PD model group (PD rats). Writhing scores and serum levels of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) were used to evaluate the success of the rat PD model. The DEPs were identi ed and analyzed by label-free quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analyses.Results A total of 276 DEPs were identi ed, including 119 up-regulated DEPs and 157 down-regulated DEPs. Bioinformatics revealed that the DEPs were mainly associated with 'protein binding', 'metabolism', 'signal conduction' and 'focal adhesion'. The proteomic ndings were veri ed by western blot analysis, which con rmed that myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), heat shock protein 90 AB1 (HSP90AB1), apolipoprotein A1 (Apoa1), p38 MAP kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signalrelated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) were signi cantly differentially expressed in between the control and PD samples.Conclusions These results provide a deeper understanding the molecular pathogenesis of PD. The DEPs found in the present study may provide new ideas for further study of the mechanism of PD and aid the search for biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment.