Approach to Abnormal
Uterine Bleeding in General
Practice
Dr. Lubna Qayam
Outline
 Causes
 Approach
 Management
Scenario 1
A 32 year old lady P2 c/o spotting in between her periods, post coital
bleeding with regular periods which lasts for 4-6 days, mild dysmenorrhoea,
no dyspareunia. There is no significant medical history. There was a h/o STI in
past which was treated successfully and she is in stable relationship for 5
years. She takes CHC.
Scenario 2
 A 48 year old lady P2 with a h/o normal and regular periods in past. She
is c/o irregular periods with prolonged bleeding pattern lasting for 5-9
days for 6-8 months . No post coital or intermenstrual bleeding. She had
an USS done recently showing ET 2.5 mm with normal ovaries. Her recent
blood tests are normal. She uses condoms as contraception.
Scenario 3
 4. A 25-year-old woman who has been using the progestogen-only
implant presents with irregular bleeding since starting 7 months ago and
would like treatment or for it to be removed. She has no significant
medical history. After consideration and exclusion of other factors, what
is the appropriate treatment to offer her?
Scenario 4
 3. A 37-year-old woman who has had the levonorgestrel-releasing
intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) for 9 months complains about the irregular
spotting she has always experienced with this method. She wishes to
control the bleeding while on holiday. She has no contraindications to
hormonal contraceptives.
Causes of AUB
AUB
Reproductive Age
PALM-COIEN
Post Menopausal
PALM: structural
causes
Polyps,pregnancy
Adenomyosis
Leiomyoma
Malignany and
hyperplasia
COEIN: Non
structural
Coagulopathy
Ovulatory dysfunction
Endometrial
Itrogenic( tamoxifen,
HC, anticoagulants,
herbel meds, steroids)
Not yet classified
Hyperthyroid (21%)
Hypothyroid (23%)
Causes of AUB
AUB
Anovulatory
-Just after menarche
-perimenopausal
-Hypothalamo-
pituitary axis
disturbance
-Unoppsed Estrogen
absence of
progesterone results
in unpredictable,
irregular and
prolonged bleeding
patterns
e.g.PCOS, thyroid,
^prolactin
Ovulatory
- Menorrhagia with
regular periods
How to approach
 History:
 age, Menstrual Hx, Sexual Hx, Obstetric/ Gynae Hx
 Past medical Hx
 Drug Hx
 Family Hx
 Examination: systemic illness, galactorrhoea, A Nigricans, hirsuitism,
Acne, Abdo, PS, PV
 Investigations: Exclude pregnancy, Swabs for STI, Check recent Cx screening
result, Blood test( FBC, Clotting, TFT, LFTs), USS pelvis
 Treatment: Treat the cause
Treatment of Anovulatory bleeding
 Progestogens like Nor-Ethisterone or medroxyprogesterone
 To arrest the heavy bleeding
 Then cyclically
 COC pills for 3-6 months
Treatment of heavy menstrual
bleeding (Menorrhagia)
If women is not wishing for contraception or while waiting for the Investigations/if
fibroid is less than 3 cm
 Mefanemic acid with Tranexamic acid is the 1st
choice
If Long term contraception is acceptable then
 LNG-IUS is the 1st
choice
2nd
Choice
 COC that reduces dysmennorhoea and regulate cycles
3rd
Choice
 Nor-ethisterone day 5-26 ( not effective contraception, but may inhibit ovulation)or
Depo- provera 12 weekly
 GNRH analougues Not recommended in PC, but a good option in SC
Treatment of Menorrhagia
If initial 1st
line Rx fails then combine
 Tranexamic acid + Nsaids (dysmenorrhoea)
 Nsaids + COCpills
To arrest heavy bleeding
 NEST 5mg- 10mg tds for 10 days ( stops bleeding with in 1-3 days, with drawl bleed
occurs 2-4 d after stopping Rx)
REFERRALS:
 Alarm symptoms
 QOL is negatively affected by menorrhagia
 Women wishes to have surgery
 Fe deficiency anaemia that fails to respond to pharmaceutical treatment
Problematic bleeding with hormonal
contraception
 It is challenging. For many women it is due to the contraceptive method itself
 Women may consider that the contraceptive and non-contraceptive benefits of
a method outweigh the inconvenience of unpredictable bleeding.
Assessment should be by
 ● Clinical history
 ● Exclude STI - perform speculum exam and take swabs at least for chlamydia
 ● Check cervical screening history
 ● Consider the need for a pregnancy test
 ● Exclude underlying pathology
Medical Therapy options for women using
hormonal contraception with problematic Bleeding
 CHC users  Reassurance for 1st 3 M , increase EE up to max 35micrograms
 POP users  may try a different POP, Estrogen supplementation or
tranexamic acid
 PO implants, injectibles and IUS EE 30-35 micr with LNG/ norethisterone or
mefanemic acid 500mg tds with tranexamic acid 1gm qds as s short term
therapy.
Causes of Post Menopausal Bleeding
 Atrophic vaginitis 60-80 %
 HRT 15-25%
 Polyps- endometrial or cervical 2-12%
 Endometrial hyperplasis 5-10%
 Endometrial carconima 10%
 Estrogen secreting ovarian tumours( Granulosa, Theca cell) <1%
 Traumatic e.g ring pessary
Scenario 5
 A 55 year old lady with an LMP 5 years ago presented with vaginal
bleeding off and on. She is sexually active. She denies any medical history
and does not take any OTC medications. O/E BP 142/88, BMI of 35, fresh
bleeding in the vagina with a small blood clot on her right labia. Cervix
looks healthy. Bimanual examination is satisfactory.
 How will you proceed?
History
 When?
 Nature, precipitating factors like SI, Trauma
 Discharge
 HRT, tamoxifen, Anticoagulants
 Any recent unintentional weight loss, fever, abdo pain, personal and family h/o
endometrial, breast, ovarian / colon cancers, (LYNCH II) bladder bowel change
 Parity
 Age of menarche and menopause
 Smoking HTN, DM
 Last smear result
Examination
 Vital signs
 BMI
 Signs of anaemia
 Abdominal examination to assess the size, Contour, tenderness of uterus,
visceromegaly, ascites.
 Speculum examination – see vulva, vagina, signs of atrophy, bleeding,
growths on vaginal wall/ cervix, abnormal discharge
 Bimanual exam to look for size of uterus, mobility, fullness of adnexa and
tenderness.
 If suspected endometrial cause of bleeding, perform the pipelle biopsy and
refer as 2WW ref to gynaecology.
Atrophic Vaginitis
 Presents with soreness and dryness of vagina, vaginal bleeding, supf dyspareunia,
dysuria, recurrent UTI and vaginal discharge.
 Thinning of the vulval and vaginal epithelium
 Loss of glycogen
 Fall in acidity
 Absence of protective lactobacilli
 Estriol creams/ pessaries daily for 2 weeks then twice weekly for 3 months.(Ovestin,
Vagifem, Orthogynest, Premique, Prempak)
 No evidence that topical Estrogens causes endometrial proliferation after 6-24 m of
use therefore no need to prescribe systemic progestogens.
 Vaginal lubricants can be use with or with out local Estrogen treatment.
PMB with HRT
 Unscheduled Vaginal bleeding is a common adverse effect of HRT in first
3m of treatment.
 CCHRT- Commonly produces irregular breakthrough bleeding in first 4-6 m.
Bleeding beyond 6m or after the spell of amenorrhoea requires further
investigations. Once risk of malignancy is excluded then try low dose
Estrogen or ^ progesterone regimen.
 Sequential HRT should produce regular predictable bleeding starting
towards or soon after the end of progesterone phase. Increasing the
duration, dose or type of progestogen is recommended.
References:
 1. FSRH guidelines
 2. Nice guidelines
approach_to_vaginal_bleeding_in_general_practice.pptx

approach_to_vaginal_bleeding_in_general_practice.pptx

  • 1.
    Approach to Abnormal UterineBleeding in General Practice Dr. Lubna Qayam
  • 2.
  • 3.
    Scenario 1 A 32year old lady P2 c/o spotting in between her periods, post coital bleeding with regular periods which lasts for 4-6 days, mild dysmenorrhoea, no dyspareunia. There is no significant medical history. There was a h/o STI in past which was treated successfully and she is in stable relationship for 5 years. She takes CHC.
  • 4.
    Scenario 2  A48 year old lady P2 with a h/o normal and regular periods in past. She is c/o irregular periods with prolonged bleeding pattern lasting for 5-9 days for 6-8 months . No post coital or intermenstrual bleeding. She had an USS done recently showing ET 2.5 mm with normal ovaries. Her recent blood tests are normal. She uses condoms as contraception.
  • 5.
    Scenario 3  4.A 25-year-old woman who has been using the progestogen-only implant presents with irregular bleeding since starting 7 months ago and would like treatment or for it to be removed. She has no significant medical history. After consideration and exclusion of other factors, what is the appropriate treatment to offer her?
  • 6.
    Scenario 4  3.A 37-year-old woman who has had the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) for 9 months complains about the irregular spotting she has always experienced with this method. She wishes to control the bleeding while on holiday. She has no contraindications to hormonal contraceptives.
  • 7.
    Causes of AUB AUB ReproductiveAge PALM-COIEN Post Menopausal PALM: structural causes Polyps,pregnancy Adenomyosis Leiomyoma Malignany and hyperplasia COEIN: Non structural Coagulopathy Ovulatory dysfunction Endometrial Itrogenic( tamoxifen, HC, anticoagulants, herbel meds, steroids) Not yet classified Hyperthyroid (21%) Hypothyroid (23%)
  • 8.
    Causes of AUB AUB Anovulatory -Justafter menarche -perimenopausal -Hypothalamo- pituitary axis disturbance -Unoppsed Estrogen absence of progesterone results in unpredictable, irregular and prolonged bleeding patterns e.g.PCOS, thyroid, ^prolactin Ovulatory - Menorrhagia with regular periods
  • 9.
    How to approach History:  age, Menstrual Hx, Sexual Hx, Obstetric/ Gynae Hx  Past medical Hx  Drug Hx  Family Hx  Examination: systemic illness, galactorrhoea, A Nigricans, hirsuitism, Acne, Abdo, PS, PV  Investigations: Exclude pregnancy, Swabs for STI, Check recent Cx screening result, Blood test( FBC, Clotting, TFT, LFTs), USS pelvis  Treatment: Treat the cause
  • 10.
    Treatment of Anovulatorybleeding  Progestogens like Nor-Ethisterone or medroxyprogesterone  To arrest the heavy bleeding  Then cyclically  COC pills for 3-6 months
  • 11.
    Treatment of heavymenstrual bleeding (Menorrhagia) If women is not wishing for contraception or while waiting for the Investigations/if fibroid is less than 3 cm  Mefanemic acid with Tranexamic acid is the 1st choice If Long term contraception is acceptable then  LNG-IUS is the 1st choice 2nd Choice  COC that reduces dysmennorhoea and regulate cycles 3rd Choice  Nor-ethisterone day 5-26 ( not effective contraception, but may inhibit ovulation)or Depo- provera 12 weekly  GNRH analougues Not recommended in PC, but a good option in SC
  • 12.
    Treatment of Menorrhagia Ifinitial 1st line Rx fails then combine  Tranexamic acid + Nsaids (dysmenorrhoea)  Nsaids + COCpills To arrest heavy bleeding  NEST 5mg- 10mg tds for 10 days ( stops bleeding with in 1-3 days, with drawl bleed occurs 2-4 d after stopping Rx) REFERRALS:  Alarm symptoms  QOL is negatively affected by menorrhagia  Women wishes to have surgery  Fe deficiency anaemia that fails to respond to pharmaceutical treatment
  • 13.
    Problematic bleeding withhormonal contraception  It is challenging. For many women it is due to the contraceptive method itself  Women may consider that the contraceptive and non-contraceptive benefits of a method outweigh the inconvenience of unpredictable bleeding. Assessment should be by  ● Clinical history  ● Exclude STI - perform speculum exam and take swabs at least for chlamydia  ● Check cervical screening history  ● Consider the need for a pregnancy test  ● Exclude underlying pathology
  • 14.
    Medical Therapy optionsfor women using hormonal contraception with problematic Bleeding  CHC users  Reassurance for 1st 3 M , increase EE up to max 35micrograms  POP users  may try a different POP, Estrogen supplementation or tranexamic acid  PO implants, injectibles and IUS EE 30-35 micr with LNG/ norethisterone or mefanemic acid 500mg tds with tranexamic acid 1gm qds as s short term therapy.
  • 15.
    Causes of PostMenopausal Bleeding  Atrophic vaginitis 60-80 %  HRT 15-25%  Polyps- endometrial or cervical 2-12%  Endometrial hyperplasis 5-10%  Endometrial carconima 10%  Estrogen secreting ovarian tumours( Granulosa, Theca cell) <1%  Traumatic e.g ring pessary
  • 16.
    Scenario 5  A55 year old lady with an LMP 5 years ago presented with vaginal bleeding off and on. She is sexually active. She denies any medical history and does not take any OTC medications. O/E BP 142/88, BMI of 35, fresh bleeding in the vagina with a small blood clot on her right labia. Cervix looks healthy. Bimanual examination is satisfactory.  How will you proceed?
  • 17.
    History  When?  Nature,precipitating factors like SI, Trauma  Discharge  HRT, tamoxifen, Anticoagulants  Any recent unintentional weight loss, fever, abdo pain, personal and family h/o endometrial, breast, ovarian / colon cancers, (LYNCH II) bladder bowel change  Parity  Age of menarche and menopause  Smoking HTN, DM  Last smear result
  • 18.
    Examination  Vital signs BMI  Signs of anaemia  Abdominal examination to assess the size, Contour, tenderness of uterus, visceromegaly, ascites.  Speculum examination – see vulva, vagina, signs of atrophy, bleeding, growths on vaginal wall/ cervix, abnormal discharge  Bimanual exam to look for size of uterus, mobility, fullness of adnexa and tenderness.  If suspected endometrial cause of bleeding, perform the pipelle biopsy and refer as 2WW ref to gynaecology.
  • 19.
    Atrophic Vaginitis  Presentswith soreness and dryness of vagina, vaginal bleeding, supf dyspareunia, dysuria, recurrent UTI and vaginal discharge.  Thinning of the vulval and vaginal epithelium  Loss of glycogen  Fall in acidity  Absence of protective lactobacilli  Estriol creams/ pessaries daily for 2 weeks then twice weekly for 3 months.(Ovestin, Vagifem, Orthogynest, Premique, Prempak)  No evidence that topical Estrogens causes endometrial proliferation after 6-24 m of use therefore no need to prescribe systemic progestogens.  Vaginal lubricants can be use with or with out local Estrogen treatment.
  • 20.
    PMB with HRT Unscheduled Vaginal bleeding is a common adverse effect of HRT in first 3m of treatment.  CCHRT- Commonly produces irregular breakthrough bleeding in first 4-6 m. Bleeding beyond 6m or after the spell of amenorrhoea requires further investigations. Once risk of malignancy is excluded then try low dose Estrogen or ^ progesterone regimen.  Sequential HRT should produce regular predictable bleeding starting towards or soon after the end of progesterone phase. Increasing the duration, dose or type of progestogen is recommended.
  • 21.
    References:  1. FSRHguidelines  2. Nice guidelines