20% of pre-menstrual women suffer from painful, irregular or heavy periods but do not realise that in most cases, they can be helped to improve the quality of their lives without surgery.
5% of women who are post menopausal expect to have difficulties and do nothing to alleviate their suffering.
Abnormal bleeding is described by having heavy, painful or irregular periods. It may also be bleeding between periods or after sexual intercourse. After the menopause bleeding is abnormal when it is not associated with HRT.
At the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth we have developed a One Stop Menstrual Clinic that aims to diagnose and treat, where possible, at one outpatient visit. This minimises cost and provides patients with a fast diagnosis and treatment option.
This is a consultant led service. Firstly, the consultant takes a detailed and thorough medical history followed by an internal examination.
Many patients will have a blood test for anaemia and to test for an underactive thyroid.
Following the examination the consultant will undertake a vaginal ultrasound scan to:
Diagnosis will determine the likely treatment options. In many cases this can include:
Only when the above have been excluded will surgery be considered.
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