Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Flashcards
What is another name for heavy menstrual bleeding?
Menorrhagia
What is heavy menorrhagia?
Blood loss during a menstrual period to the extent in which the woman’s quality of life is affected
What is heavy menstrual bleeding based on?
What the woman considers to be excessive
What are some indications of heavy menstrual bleeding?
The need to change menstrual products every 1 to 2 hours
Passage of clots greater than 2.5cm
Bleeding through clothes
How can menorrhagia occur?
It can occur alone or with dysmenorrhoea
What is dysfunctional uterine bleeding?
A heavy menstrual period with no underlying pathology
What can the pathological causes of menorrhagia be split into?
Local
Symptomatic
What are local causes of menorrhagia?
Fibroids Adenomyosis Endometrial polyps Endometriosis Pelvic inflammatory disease Endometrial cancer
When should you be suspicious of endometrial cancer?
If there is postmenopausal bleeding
What are the symptomatic causes of menorrhagia?
Bleeding disorders
Hypothyroidism
Liver and kidney disease
Obesity
What investigation should be preformed in al women?
A full blood count
What symptoms would indicate doing a vaginal ultrasound?
Intermenstrual or postcoital bleeding
Pelvic pain
Pressure symptoms
What would you do if there was an abnormal pelvic exam?
Transvaginal ultrasound
What is the management of menorrhagia if the patient doesn’t require contraception?
Mefenamic acid (main) Tranexamic acid
When are Mefenamic acid and Tranexamic acid started?
On the first day of the period
