Transcript Intermenstrual bleeding

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding:
Abnormal uterine bleeding is a common presenting problem.
(DUB) is defined as abnormal uterine bleeding in the
absence of organic disease. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal bleeding
during a woman's reproductive years. Dysfunctional uterine
bleeding can have a substantial financial and quality-of-life
burden. It affects women's health both medically and
socially.
Terms frequently used to
describeabnormal uterine bleeding:
A normal menstrual cycle is characterized by an approximate flow of 30 mL per
period, which lasts for 2 to 7 days and occurs with a mean interval of 21 to 35 days
DUB refers to abnormal bleeding from the uterus and can be characterized
clinically by amount, duration, and periodicity:
Menorrhagia - Prolonged (>7 d) or excessive (>80 mL daily) uterine bleeding
occurring at regular intervals
Metrorrhagia - Uterine bleeding occurring at irregular and more frequent than
normal intervals
Menometrorrhagia - Prolonged or excessive uterine bleeding occurring at irregular
and more frequent than normal intervals
Intermenstrual bleeding - Uterine bleeding of variable amounts occurring between
regular menstrual periods
Midcycle spotting - Spotting occurring just before ovulation, typically from declining
estrogen levels
Postmenopausal bleeding - Recurrence of bleeding in a menopausal woman at
least 6 months to 1 year after cessation of cycles
Amenorrhea - No uterine bleeding for 6 months or longer
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is ovulatory or
anovulatory bleeding, diagnosed after pregnancy, medications, iatrogenic
causes, genital tract pathology, malignancy, and systemic disease have
been ruled out by appropriate investigations. Approximately 90% of
dysfunctional uterine bleeding cases result from an ovulation, and 10% of
cases occur with ovulatory cycles.
-Anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding results from a disturbance of
the normal hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and is particularly common
at the extremes of the reproductive years. When ovulation does not occur,
no progesterone is produced to stabilize the endometrium; thus,
proliferative endometrium persists.
Bleeding episodes become irregular, and amenorrhea, metrorrhagia, and
menometrorrhagia are common. Bleeding from anovulatory dysfunctional
uterine bleeding is thought to result from changes in prostaglandin
concentration, increased endometrial responsiveness to vasodilating
prostaglandins, and changes in endometrial vascular structure.
-In ovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding, bleeding occurs cyclically, and
menorrhagia is thought to originate from defects in the control mechanisms
of menstruation. It is thought that, in women with ovulatory dysfunctional
uterine bleeding, there is an increased rate of blood loss resulting from
vasodilatation of the vessels supplying the endometrium due to decreased
vascular tone, and prostaglandins have been strongly implicated.
Therefore, these women lose blood at rates about 3 times faster than
women with normal menses.4
-Mortality/Morbidity
Morbidity is related to the amount of blood loss at the time of menstruation,
which occasionally is severe enough to cause hemorrhagic shock.
Excessive menstrual bleeding accounts for two thirds of all hysterectomies
and most endoscopic endometrial destructive surgery. Menorrhagia has
several adverse effects, including anemia and iron deficiency, reduced
quality of life, and increased healthcare costs.
Race
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding has no predilection for race; however, black
women have a higher incidence of leiomyomas and, as a result, they are
prone to experiencing more episodes of abnormal vaginal bleeding.
-Age
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is most common at the extreme ages of a
woman's reproductive years, either at the beginning or near the end, but it
may occur at any time during her reproductive life.
Most cases of dysfunctional uterine bleeding in adolescent girls occur
during the first 2 years after the onset of menstruation, when their immature
hypothalamic-pituitary axis may fail to respond to estrogen and
progesterone, resulting in an ovulation.
Abnormal uterine bleeding affects up to 50% of perimenopausal women. In
the perimenopausal period, dysfunctional uterine bleeding may be an early
manifestation of ovarian failure causing decreased hormone levels or
responsiveness to hormones, thus also leading to anovulatory cycles. In
patients who are 40 years or older, the number and quality of ovarian
follicles diminishes. Follicles continue to develop but do not produce
enough estrogen in response to FSH to trigger ovulation. The estrogen that
is produced usually results in late-cycle estrogen breakthrough bleeding.
-History
Patients often present with complaints of amenorrhea, menorrhagia,
metrorrhagia, or menometrorrhagia. The amount and frequency of bleeding
and the duration of symptoms, as well as the relationship to the menstrual
cycle, should be established. Ask patients to compare the number of pads
or tampons used per day in a normal menstrual cycle to the number used
at the time of presentation. The average tampon or pad absorbs 20-30 mL
or vaginal effluent. Personal habits vary greatly among women; therefore,
the number of pads or tampons used is unreliable.
A reproductive history should always be obtained, including the following:
Age of menarche and menstrual history and regularity
Last menstrual period (LMP), including flow, duration, and presence of
dysmenorrhea
Postcoital bleeding
Gravida and para
Previous abortion or recent termination of pregnancy
Contraceptive use, use of barrier protection, and sexual activity (including
vigorous sexual activity or trauma)
History of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or ectopic pregnancy
Questions about medical history should include the following:
Signs and symptoms of anemia or hypovolemia (including fatigue, dizziness, and syncope)
Diabetes mellitus
Thyroid disease
Endocrine problems or pituitary tumors
Liver disease
Recent illness, psychological stress, excessive exercise, or weight change
Medication usage, including exogenous hormones, anticoagulants, aspirin, anticonvulsants, and
antibiotics
An international expert panel including obstetrician/gynecologists and
hematologists has issued guidelines to assist physicians to better recognize
bleeding disorders, such as von Will brand disease, as a cause of menorrhagia and
postpartum hemorrhage and to provide disease-specific therapy for the bleeding
disorder.5Historically, a lack of awareness of underlying bleeding disorders has led
to under diagnosis in women with abnormal reproductive tract bleeding. The panel
provided expert consensus recommendations on how to identify, confirm, and
manage a bleeding disorder. If a bleeding disorder is suspected, evaluation for a
coagulation problem is required and consultation with a hematologist is suggested.
An underlying bleeding disorder should be considered when a patient has any of
the following:
Menorrhagia since menarche
Family history of bleeding disorders
Personal history of 1 or several of the following:
Notable bruising without known injury
Bleeding of oral cavity or GI tract without obvious lesion
Epistaxis >10 min duration (possibly necessitating packing or cautery)
-Physical
1) Vital signs, including postural changes, should be assessed. Initial evaluation
should be directed at assessing the patient's volume status and degree of anemia.
Examine for pallor and absence of conjunctival vessels to gauge anemia.
2) An abdominal examination should be performed. Femoral and inguinal lymph
nodes should be examined. Stool should be evaluated for the presence of blood.
3) Patients who are hemodynamically stable require a pelvic speculum, bimanual,
and rectovaginal examination to define the etiology of vaginal bleeding. A careful
physical examination will exclude vaginal or rectal sources of bleeding. The
examination should look for the following:
The vagina should be inspected for signs of trauma, lesions, infection, and
foreign bodies.
The cervix should be visualized and inspected for lesions, polyps, infection,
or intrauterine device (IUD).
Bleeding from the cervical os
A rectovaginal examination should be performed to evaluate the cul-de-sac,
posterior wall of the uterus, and uterosacral ligaments.
4) Uterine or ovarian structural abnormalities, including leiomyoma or fibroid uterus,
may be noted on bimanual examination.
5) Patients with hematologic pathology may also have cutaneous evidence of
bleeding diathesis. Physical findings include petechiae, purpura, and mucosal
bleeding (eg, gums) in addition to vaginal bleeding.
6) Patients with liver disease that has resulted in a coagulopathy may manifest
additional symptomatology because of abnormal hepatic function. Evaluate patients
for spider angioma, palmar erythema, splenomegaly, ascites, jaundice.
7) Women with polycystic ovary disease present with signs of hyperandrogenism,
including hirsutism, obesity, acne, palpable enlarged ovaries, and acanthosis
nigricans (hyper pigmentation typically seen in the folds of the skin in the neck,
groin, or axilla)
8) Hyperactive and hypoactive thyroid can cause menstrual irregularities. Patients
may have varying degrees of characteristic vital sign abnormalities, eye findings,
tremors, changes in skin texture, and weight change. Goiter may be present.
Causes
-
Systemic disease,
including thrombocytopenia, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Cushing
disease, liver disease, diabetes mellitus, and adrenal and other endocrine
disorders, can present as abnormal uterine bleeding.
Pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions may be associated with vaginal
bleeding.
Trauma to the cervix, vulva, or vagina may cause abnormal bleeding.
Carcinomas of the vagina, cervix, uterus, and ovaries must always be
considered in patients with the appropriate history and physical examination
findings.
Endometrial cancer is associated with obesity, diabetes mellitus, anovulatory
cycles, nulliparity, and age older than 35 years.
Other causes of abnormal uterine bleeding include structural disorders, such
as functional ovarian cysts,cervicitis, endometritis, salpingitis, leiomyomas,
and adenomyosis.
Cervical dysplasia or other genital tract pathology may present as postcoital
or irregular bleeding.
Causes
-
Polycystic ovary disease results in excess estrogen production and
commonly presents as abnormal uterine bleeding.
Primary coagulation disorders, such as von Will brand
disease, myeloproliferative disorders, and immune thrombocytopenia, can
present with menorrhagia.
Excessive exercise, stress, and weight loss cause hypothalamic suppression
leading to abnormal uterine bleeding due to disruption along the
hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian pathway.
Bleeding disturbances are common with combination oral contraceptive pills
as well as progestin-only methods of birth control. However, the incidence of
bleeding decreases significantly with time. Therefore, only counseling and
reassurance are required during the early months of use.
Contraceptive intrauterine devices (IUDs) can cause variable vaginal bleeding
for the first few cycles after placement and intermittent spotting
subsequently. The progesterone impregnated IUD (Mirena) is associated with
less menometrorrhagia and usually results in secondary amenorrhea
Differential Diagnoses
-
Abortion
Abruptio Placentae
An ovulation
Anticoagulants
Antipsychotic
Malformations
Cervical Cancer
Cervicitis
Coagulopathies
Cushing Syndrome
Endocervical Polyp
Endometrial
Carcinoma
Endometrial Polyp
Endometriosis
Estrogen Therapy
Fibroids
Hydatidiform Mole
Hypothyroidism
Intrauterine devices
Liver disease
Mullerian Duct
Anomalies
Ovarian Cysts
Pelvic Inflammatory
Disease
Placenta Previa
Platelet Disorders
von Will brand
Disease
Vulvovaginitis
When evaluating a woman of reproductive age with vaginal bleeding,
pregnancy must always be ruled out by urine or serum human chorionic
gonadotropin.
In a patient with any hemodynamic instability, excessive bleeding, or clinical
evidence of anemia, a complete blood count is essential.
Coagulation studies should be considered when indicated by the history or
physical examination findings and in patients with underlying liver disease or
other coagulopathies.
In patients with suspected endocrine disorders, other laboratory studies such
as thyroid function tests and prolactin levels may be helpful, although these
results may not be available from the ED (endocrine disorders).
Imaging Studies
Pelvic ultrasonography is an important imaging modality for non pregnant
patients with abnormal vaginal bleeding. It may determine the etiology of the
bleeding such as a fibroid uterus, endometrial thickening, or a focal mass.
Thickened endometrium may indicate an underlying lesion or excess
estrogen and may be suggestive of malignancy.
An endometrial stripe measuring less than 4 mm thick is unlikely to
have endometrial hyperplasia or cancer, and biopsy is often
considered unnecessary before treatment.
Women with a normal endometrial stripe (5–12 mm) may require
biopsy, particularly if they have risk factors for endometrial cancer.
When the endometrial stripe is larger than 12 mm, a biopsy should
be performed.6
Depending on the urgency to determine the etiology of bleeding and on
the reliability of outpatient follow-up, ultrasonography may be deferred
for outpatient evaluations because for the majority of nonpregnant
patients, ultrasonographic findings do not immediately affect ED
decision-making.3
Transvaginal ultrasonography may be particularly helpful in further
delineating ovarian cysts and fluid in the cul-de-sac.
Computed tomography is used primarily for evaluation of other causes of
acute abdominal or pelvic pain.
Magnetic resonance imaging is used primarily for cancer staging.
Procedures
Before instituting therapy, many consulting gynecologists perform
endometrial sampling or biopsy to diagnose intrauterine pathology and to
exclude endometrial malignancy.
Endometrial biopsy is indicated for the following patients with abnormal
uterine bleeding6 :
Women older than 35 years
Obese patients
Women who have prolonged periods of unopposed estrogen stimulation
Women with chronic an ovulation
Hysteroscopy is the definitive way to detect intrauterine lesions. It offers a
more complete examination of the surface of the endometrium. However, it is
usually reserved for treating lesions that were detected by other less invasive
means.
Treatment
Emergency Department Care
Hemodynamically unstable patients with uncontrolled bleeding and signs of
significant blood loss should have aggressive resuscitation with saline and
blood as with other types of hemorrhagic shock.
Evaluate ABCs and address the priorities.
Initiate 2 large-bore intravenous lines (IVs), oxygen, and cardiac monitor.
If bleeding is profuse and the patient is unresponsive to initial fluid
management, consider administration of IV conjugated estrogen
(Premarin) 25 mg IV every 4-6 hours until the bleeding stops.
In women with severe, persistent uterine bleeding, an immediate dilation
and curettage (D&C) procedure may be necessary.
Treatment, cont.
Combination oral contraceptive pills may be used in women who are not
pregnant and have no anatomic abnormalities. An oral contraceptive with 35
mcg can be taken twice a day until the bleeding stops for up to 7 days, at
which time the dose is decreased to once a day until the pack is completed.
They provide the additional benefits of reducing dysmenorrhea and providing
contraception. Side effects include nausea and vomiting.
Progesterone alone can be used to stabilize an immature endometrium. It is
usually successful in the treatment of women with anovulatory dysfunctional
uterine bleeding (DUB) because these women have unopposed estrogen
stimulation. Medroxyprogesterone acetate 10 mg is taken orally once daily for
10 days, followed by withdrawal bleeding 3-5 days after completion of the
course. Currently, there is not enough evidence comparing the effect of either
progesterone alone or in combination with estrogens for the treatment of
dysfunctional uterine bleeding.7
Treatment, cont.
No steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally effective for the
treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding and dysmenorrhea. NSAIDs
inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis and increasing thromboxane A2 levels.
This leads to vasoconstriction and increased platelet aggregation. These
medications may reduce blood loss by 20-50%. NSAIDs are most effective if
used with the onset of menses or just prior to its onset and continued
throughout its duration.
Danazol creates a hypoestrogenic and hyper androgenic environment, which
induces endometrial atrophy resulting in reduced menstrual loss. Side effects
include musculoskeletal pain, breast atrophy, hirsutism, weight gain, oily
skin, and acne. Because of the significant androgenic side effects, this drug
is usually reserved as a second-line treatment for short-term use prior to
surgery.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists may be helpful for short-term use
in inducing amenorrhea and allowing women to rebuild their red blood cell
mass. They produce a profound hypoestrogenic state similar to menopause.
Side effects include menopausal symptoms and bone loss with long-term
use.
Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic drug that exerts its effects by reversibly
inhibiting plasminogen
Treatment, cont.
Consultations
Seek an emergency gynecologic consultation for patients requiring
hemodynamic stabilization. If parenteral therapy does not completely arrest
vaginal bleeding in the hemodynamically unstable patient, an emergency
D&C may be warranted.
Consultation with or urgent referral to a gynecologist for surgical treatment
may be necessary for patients who do not desire fertility and in whom
medical therapy fails. Both endometrial ablation and hysterectomy are
effective treatments in women with dysfunctional uterine bleeding with
comparable patient satisfaction rates.
Endometrial ablation is( a medical procedure that is used to remove (ablate) or
destroy the endometrial lining of a uterus) may be performed using laser,
electrocautery, or roller ball.
Treatment, cont.
Amenorrhea is seen in approximately 35% of women treated, and decreased flow is
seen in another 45%; although, treatment failures increase with time following the
procedure due to endometrial regeneration. A substantial number of patients
receiving endometrial ablation require reoperation (30% by 48 months).
Hysterectomy is the most effective treatment for bleeding. However, it is
associated with more frequent and severe adverse events compared with
either conservative medical or ablation procedures. Operating time,
hospitalization, recovery times, and costs are also greater. Hence,
hysterectomy is reserved for selected patient populations.
Medication
The goals of pharmacotherapy are to control the bleeding, reduce morbidity,
and prevent complications.
Steroid hormones
Contraceptive pills
Medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera)
After acute bleeding episode controlled, can be used alone in patients with
adequate amounts of endogenous estrogen to cause endometrial growth. Progestin
therapy in adolescents produces regular cyclic withdrawal bleeding until positive
feedback system matures. Progestins stop endometrial growth and support and
organize endometrium to allow organized sloughing after their withdrawal. Bleeding
ceases rapidly because of an organized slough to the basalis layer. These drugs
usually do not stop acute bleeding episodes, yet produce a normal bleeding
episode following their withdrawal.
Complications
Anemia (may become severe)
Adenocarcinoma of the uterus (if prolonged, unopposed
estrogen stimulation)
Prognosis
Hormonal contraceptives reduce blood loss by 40-70% when
used long term.
Although medical therapy is generally used first, over half of
women with menorrhagia undergo hysterectomy within 5
years of referral to a gynecologist.[2 ]
Patient Education
Instruct patients to continue prescribed medications, although bleeding
may still be occurring during the early part of the cycle. Also, patients
should be told to expect menses after cessation of the regimen.
Young patients with small amounts of irregular bleeding need reassurance
and observation only prior to instituting a drug regimen. Express to patients
that pharmacologic intervention will not be necessary once menstrual
cycles become regular.
Discuss ways the patient can avoid prolonged emotional stress and
maintain a normal body mass index.
For excellent patient education resources, visit medicine's Women's Health
Center.