Referral for menstrual problems: cross sectional survey of symptoms, reasons for referral, and management

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the menstrual experience of women referred for menstrual problems, in particular menorrhagia (excessive menstrual loss), and to assess associations with reasons for referral given by their general practitioners, the women's understanding of the reasons for their attendance at the hospital clinics, and clinic outcome. Design: Questionnaire survey, with partial review of case notes after 8 months. Setting: Three hospital gynaecology clinics in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Participants: 952 women completed the questionnaire, and the first 665 were reviewed. Outcome measures: Reason for referral, women's reported menstrual problems and reason for clinic attendance, diagnosis, and treatment. Results: Only 38% (95% confidence interval 34% to 41%) of women reported excessive menstrual loss as a severe problem. However 60% (57-63%) gave it as reason for attending a clinic, and 76% (73-79%) of general practitioners gave it as reason for referral. Reason for referral was significantly biased towards bleeding (McNemar odds ratio 4.01, 3.0 to 5.3, PConclusions: Intolerance of the volume of their bleeding is not a key feature among women attending clinics for bleeding problems. Broad menstrual complaint tends to be reframed as excessive bleeding at referral and during management. This may result in women receiving inappropriate care. Conceptualisation and assessment of menorrhagia requires reconsideration. What is already known on this topic Excessive menstrual loss (menorrhagia) is one of the commonest reasons for secondary referral of women, but there is no formalised clinical assessment in routine use Management typically involves potent drugs or invasive surgery, with 60% of women having hysterectomy within 5 years Many women referred for menorrhagia have menstrual blood loss that is not excessive What this study adds Discordance exists between symptoms and both referral and diagnostic pathways, arising from a disproportionate focus on menstrual bleeding Among women referred for menorrhagia, volume of bleeding is not a key symptom This raises concerns about conceptualisation and assessment of menstrual complaint and the appropriateness of healthcare provision