Treating Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (HMB) affects women from menarche to peri-menopause. An understanding of the basics of diagnosis, examination, investigation and management are essential for all health care professionals. Nurses who have undertaken advanced training to work as Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP) often feel gynaecological training has been limited in their training. This article provides an update on HMB treatment options to aid competence.

HMB is defined as “excessive menstrual blood loss which interferes with a woman's physical, social, emotional and/or material quality of life. It can occur alone or in combination with other symptoms”.