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Available management options for heavy menstrual bleeding
Author(s) -
Quinn Stephen,
Higham Jenny
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
prescriber
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.106
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 1931-2253
pISSN - 0959-6682
DOI - 10.1002/psb.1245
Subject(s) - citation , correct name , medicine , library science , computer science , biology , paleontology
18 z Prescriber 19 September 2014 prescriber.co.uk Heavy menstrual loss is among the commonest gynaecological problems, and is defined as greater than 80ml of blood loss each period;1 however, this is rarely measured in clinical practice. The descriptions of the quantity of monthly blood loss is subjective and precise quantifying of blood loss is difficult.2 The previously used terms of menorrhagia and dysfunctional uterine bleeding have been rejected by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), and the FIGO Classification of Causes of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding now uses the term abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) – bleeding that is abnormally heavy and/or abnormal in timing. Within the description of AUB, FIGO has included the term heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) – bleeding above the 95th percentile of the normal population.3 When NICE published guidance for the treatment of HMB in 2007 they recommended that HMB be defined as excessive menstrual blood loss that interferes with the woman’s physical, emotional, social and material quality of life.4 From these recommendations the emphasis has moved from quantitative measurement to assessment of the overall effects on quality of life.