Nonpregnant vaginal bleeding

Revision as of 16:26, 4 November 2015 by Kxl328 (talk | contribs)

Background

  • This page is for the generalized approach to undifferentiated vaginal bleeding in non-pregnant women
  • Normal menstruation:
    • 28 +/- 7 day cycles
    • 4 days of bleeding

Vaginal bleeding definitions

  • Menorrhagia: >7 day (prolonged) or >80 mL/day (excessive) uterine bleeding at regular intervals
  • Metrorrhagia: irregular vaginal bleeding outside the normal cycle
  • Menometrorrhagia: excessive irregular vaginal bleeding
  • Intermenstrual bleeding: variable amounts between regular menstrual periods
  • Midcycle spotting: spotting just before ovulation (due to decline in estrogen)
  • Polymenorrhea: frequent and light bleeding
  • Postcoital bleeding: vaginal bleeding after intercourse, suggesting cervical pathology
  • Postmenopausal bleeding: recurrence of bleeding >6 mo after menopause
  • Amenorrhea: bleeding that is absent for > 6 months

Clinical Features

  • Vaginal bleeding in a non-pregnant woman

Differential Diagnosis

Nonpregnant Vaginal Bleeding

Systemic Causes

Reproductive Tract Causes

Diagnosis

Work-Up

  • Urine pregnancy
  • Hb
  • Coags (only if h/o or suspect coaulopathy)
  • ?TSH, prolactin (only if suspect endocrine d/o)
  • Consider follow up for non-emergent pelvic ultrasound
    • No indication for emergent ultrasound in ED

Evaluation

  • Hemodynamically stable pt in ED must rule-out:
    • Pregnancy
    • Trauma
    • Bleeding dyscrasia
    • Infection
    • Retained foreign body
    • If ruled these out the refer for outpt w/u

Treatment

  1. Iron supplements
  2. Ibuprofen
    • For cramps and theoretically decreases intra-uterine bleeding
  3. Hormones
    • Give only if endocervical curettage/endometrial biopsy does not need to be performed (young patient) or has already been performed, as they may alter test results
    • Medroxyprogesterone
      • 150mg IM x 1 then 20mg PO Q8hrs x 3 days
      • In a trial of 48 patients all had cessation in 5 days.[1]
    • Estrogen IV/PO (similar efficacy)

Life Threatening

  1. Give blood transfusion
    • O-negative blood if emergent
    • Establish good access
  2. Temporize bleeding w/ foley balloon or kerlix soaked in saline and thrombin
  3. Suture or silver nitrate if bleeding from trauma

Disposition

  • Most can be discharged home with OB/GYN follow-up
  • For severe anemia or persistent exceedingly heavy flow, consider admission and/or discussion with OB/GYN

References

  1. Ammerman SR, Nelson AL. A new progestogen-only medical therapy for outpatient management of acute, abnormal uterine bleeding: a pilot study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013. 208(6):499.e1-e5.

See Also