HNY Policy and Pathway Repository - York

Menorrhagia

Excessive menstrual blood loss which interferes with the woman’s physical, emotional, social and material quality of life and which can occur alone or in combination with other symptoms.
 

Polymenorrhagia

Frequent heavy bleeding, with shortening of menstrual cycle (eg < K- 5/21) for more than 3 cycles.

• Most cases are due to Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB), however, this is a diagnosis of exclusion.

• Postmenopausal Bleeding (PMB) i.e. bleeding >12 months after last period over age 55
• Persistent Intermenstrual bleeding (IMB): if >45 or other risk factors for endometrial cancer (eg obesity, PCOS unopposed oestrogen, tamoxifen)
• Treatment failure in women aged 45 years or over
• Significant anaemia- Hb< 8- consider admission for transfusion/ urgent referral
• Suspicious USS features

General Points

History:

• Sudden change in bleeding pattern?
• Recent childbirth?
• Recent change in contraception?
• Family history/ onset of HMB from puberty- consider von Willebrand Disease.

Examination:

• Consider infection (especially if under 25 or change in partner)
• Abdominal examination/ Pelvic examination (is there pain, is there an enlarged uterus?)

Investigations:

• Bloods: FBC, TFTs.(check for vWF if onset of HBM from puberty)
• Consider USS if enlarged uterus or new change in bleeding pattern.
• Refer for hysteroscopy if any suspected polyps or thickened endometrium on USS.

How to Reduce Sudden/New onset Heavy Bleeding

Exclude pregnancy first, then consider:

1. Cyclical oral progestogens : either noreristhisterone 5mg (one tab) 2-3 times a day for 10-21d/ cycle OR medroxyprogesterone (Provera) 10mg two- three times a day

• Norerithisterone may not be suitable for all patients (as theoretically 10-20 mg of norethisterone/day equates to an equivalent of 20-30 micrograms of ethinylestradioldaily and hence may carry the same VTE risks as combined oral contraceptives). The risks vs. benefits should be considered in patients depending on their underlying risk factors for thrombosis
• Medroxyprogesterone 10mg is an alternative to those patients with high risk of VTE but it should be noted that it is not specifically licensed for treatment of menorrhagia.

2. Tranexamic acid 500mg-1g tds reduces blood loss by up to 50%.
 

How to delay Periods (holiday planning):

• If using COCP: can omit pill free interval (guidance usually in the manufacturers leaflet)
• No contraception: (exclude pregnancy and thrombosis risk): Provera (MPA) 10mg bd or Norethisterone 5mg tds, starting 3-4d prior to expected start of period.

Management of Menorrhagia

If under age 45, with no additional risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia:

• Mirena IUS is first line for woman with normal sized uterus on examination. A trial of at least 6m is advised.
  • Mirena can be used for fibroids upto 3cm in size (or uterus <14/40 size).
  • Cautions: previous PID, uterine anomalies on USS. See UK MEC
• Hormonal therapy options:
  • Combined hormonal contraceptives - may reduce menstrual loss and regulate cycle. First line choice is Rigevidon® (ethinylestradiol 30micrograms and levonorgestrel 150micrograms).
  • Please refer to York/Scarborough net formulary for approved alternatives.
  • Please refer to UKMEC or SPC or BNF or for exclusion criteria
  • Oral Progesterones: either Norethisterone or Medroxyprogesterone Acetate.
    • used for 10- 21d, with a 7d break may reduce prolonged, heavy periods for a 3m trial.
  • The progestogen only pill eg. desogestrel and Nexplanon® may also help particularly if amenorrhoea is achieved.
  • Injected progesterone eg. Depo Provera®
• Non-hormonal therapy:
  • Tranexamic Acid and NSAIDs
• Oral Progesterones: Provera (MPA) or Norethisterone (as above).

Management of Fibroids over 3cm or distorting endometrial cavity:

• Under shared care guidance, GnRHa may be used to help shrink fibroids (usually considered pre-operatively).
• Ullipristal is a new medication licensed for reducing fibroid size- Not currently commissioned.

If above measures have failed- please advise patient of third line treatment options:

• Endometrial ablation
• Fibroid embolisation
• Hysterectomy – full Hysterectomy Commissioning Statement.
• Recommend the patient decision aid tool

Refer for hysteroscopy if any suspected polyps or thickened endometrium on USS.

Patient information leaflets/PDAs

Patient Decision Aid: https://medical.azureedge.net/decision-aid/heavy-periods.pdf 

PILS: https://patient.info/health/periods-and-period-problems/heavy-periods-menorrhagia 
 

References

• NICE Guideline (August 2016) Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
• https://cks.nice.org.uk/menorrhagia#!scenario 
• Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 2012;38:148–149. doi:10.1136/jfprhc-2012-100345; Safer prescribing of therapeutic norethisterone for women at risk of venous thromboembolism