Authors:
Fraser IS. McCarron G. Markham R.
Title:
A preliminary study of factors influencing perception of menstrual blood loss volume (1984-877).
Source:
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 149(7):788-93, 1984 Aug 1.
Abstract:
Sixty-nine women with a convincing complaint of menorrhagia took part in a double-blind treatment trial. Menstrual blood loss was measured and the subject's own perception was carefully recorded. Only 38% had objective menorrhagia with a measured loss greater than 80 ml although 59% would qualify with an upper limit of normal of 60 ml. Overall the measured loss in the "heaviest" periods (69.6 +/- 7.3 ml; mean +/- SEM) were significantly greater than that of the "lightest" periods (42.7 +/- 4.7 ml; p less than 0.001), but there were many major errors in perception by individuals. Perceived daily blood loss volume on a 4-point rating scale gave the following group means and ranges: spotting, 2.5 ml (0.1 to 15.5); light, 5.7 ml (0.1 to 63.1); moderate, 16.1 ml (0.5 to 108.6); very heavy, 22.0 ml (1.4 to 215.8); very wide individual ranges of assessment are illustrated. As a whole the group was also able to distinguish between a day-to-day volume increase or decrease, but again there were many major errors. Some subjects who experienced a reduction in measured blood loss from one day to the next actually perceived this as a large increase. Menstrual pain and duration of bleeding were not found to influence perception of blood loss volume, whereas younger subjects (26 and under) were significantly more likely than older women (37 and over) to regard a moderate loss as very heavy. There was no significant correlation between the number of pads/tampons used and the measured menstrual loss, and some individuals showed extreme variations between blood loss and pad usage. This study suggests that the only reliable assessment of menstrual blood loss volume and changes in volume in women complaining of menorrhagia is obtained by objective measurement of blood loss by a technique such as alkaline hematin extraction.
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- 1 Are heavy periods a common problem?
- 2 What is in my menstrual flow?
- 3 What range of menstrual cycle length is considered to be normal?
- 4 How can menstrual blood loss be measured?
- 5 How can I tell if my periods are abnormally heavy?
- 6 What could be the cause of my very heavy menstrual periods?
- 7 I have been sterilised. Could this be the cause of my heavy periods?
- 8 Should I have tests to find the reason for my heavy periods?
- 9 How will my heavy period problems be investigated?
- 10 What is meant by anaemia due to heavy periods?
- 11 What is intermenstrual bleeding?
- 12 What is a hysteroscopy and D and C?
- 13 What is cervical cautery?
- 14 What happens after the D and C?
- 15 What treatments are available for my heavy periods?
- 16 What are the medical treatments available for heavy periods?
- 17 How do the various medical treatments for heavy periods work?
- 18 What would be reasonable initial treatment for a teenager or young woman with heavy periods?
- 19 What is a hysterectomy?
- 20 What are the indications for hysterectomy?
- 21 What are the risks (complications) of hysterectomy?
- 22 What is vault granulation?
- 23 What are the different types of hysterectomy?
- 24 Is it essential to remove the neck of the womb at hysterectomy?
- 25 Should my ovaries be removed or conserved during hysterectomy?
- 26 How long will I be in hospital when I have my hysterectomy?
- 27 I have had a hysterectomy. Do I still need to have smear tests?
- 28 What are the other surgical alternatives to hysterectomy?
- 29 How do endometrial ablation and hysterectomy compare?
- 30 Are there any psychological effects following hysterectomy?
- 31 How do we decide the best treatment for my period problems?
- 32 Could I have some recommended hysterectomy support groups?
- 33 Are there any support groups?
- Intermenstrual Bleeding - Bleeding between periods.
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