Approach to Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in General Practice

Approach to Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in General Practice Dr. Lubna Qayam

Outline Causes Approach Management

Scenario 1 A 32 year old lady P 2 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 P 2 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 Reproductive Age PALM-COIEN Post Menopausal PALM: structural causes COEIN: Non structural Polyps, pregnancy Adenomyosis Leiomyoma Malignany and hyperplasia Coagulopathy Ovulatory dysfunction Endometrial Itrogenic( tamoxifen, HC, anticoagulants, herbel meds, steroids) Not yet classified Hyperthyroid (21%) Hypothyroid (23%)

Causes of 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 1 st choice If Long term contraception is acceptable then LNG-IUS is the 1 st choice 2 nd Choice COC that reduces dysmennorhoea and regulate cycles 3 rd 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 1 st line Rx fails then combine Tranexamic acid + Nsaids (dysmenorrhoea) Nsaids + COCpills To arrest heavy bleeding NEST 5 mg- 10 mg 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 1 st 3 M , increase EE up to max 35 micrograms 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 500 mg tds with tranexamic acid 1 gm 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 2 WW 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 3 m of treatment. CCHRT- Commonly produces irregular breakthrough bleeding in first 4 -6 m. Bleeding beyond 6 m 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