RELATION BETWEEN MEASURED MENSTRUAL BLOOD LOSS AND PATIENT'S SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF LOSS, DURATION OF BLEEDING, NUMBER OF SANITARY TOWELS USED, UTERINE WEIGHT AND ENDOMETRIAL SURFACE AREA

TLDR

The study examined the relationship between objectively measured menstrual blood loss and patients’ subjective assessments, bleeding duration, and tampon/pad use in 92 women with unexplained heavy periods. Blood loss was measured over two consecutive periods, while subjective data were recorded; in 40 women who underwent hysterectomy, uterine weight and endometrial surface area were also measured. No correlation was found between measured blood loss and subjective parameters, and neither uterine weight nor endometrial surface area was associated with menorrhagia.

Abstract

Summary In 92 women complaining of heavy but regular periods for which no cause was found, the relation was studied between measured menstrual blood loss during two consecutive periods and the patient's subjective assessment of blood loss, the number of days of bleeding, and the number of sanitary pads and tampons used. There was no correlation between menstrual blood loss and these parameters. In many women these parameters are not a reliable indicator of the volume of menstrual blood loss. In 40 of the 92 women, who subsequently had a hysterectomy because of their complaint of menorrhagia, the uterus was weighed and the endometrial surface area measured. The view that menorrhagia is associated with a large uterus or a large endometrial surface area could not be confirmed.