Abnormal uterine bleeding refers to any change in the regularity, frequency, heaviness or length of menstruation. There are several potential causes for bleeding disturbance, the two most common being primary endometrial dysfunction and fibroids. Management of abnormal uterine bleeding involves both medical and surgical options and will largely depend on a patient's fertility plans. The use of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices for heavy menstrual bleeding is increasing in Australia, and they are considered first-line medical management for women accepting of hormonal therapies. Tranexamic acid, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the combined oral contraceptive pill and oral progestins offer alternatives. Hysterectomy offers a definitive surgical approach to abnormal uterine bleeding and is associated with high levels of patient satisfaction. Women wishing to preserve their fertility, or avoid hysterectomy, may be offered myomectomy. Submucosal fibroids should be removed via hysteroscopy in symptomatic or infertile patients. Intramural and subserosal fibroids may be removed via an open or laparoscopic approach. There are several minimally invasive options, including uterine artery embolisation, magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound and endometrial ablation, but patients should be aware that there is insufficient evidence to ensure fertility preservation with these procedures and further research is needed. Areas for additional research include cost-effectiveness of treatments and quality of life comparisons between management options using patient reported outcome measures to evaluate patient satisfaction.
Gynecological cancers affect a growing number of women globally, with approximately 1.3 million women diagnosed in 2018. Menopausal symptoms are a significant health concern after treatment for gynecological cancers and may result from oncologic treatments such as premenopausal bilateral oophorectomy, ovarian failure associated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and anti-estrogenic effects of maintenance endocrine therapy. Additionally, with the growing availability of testing for pathogenic gene variants such as BRCA1/2 and Lynch syndrome, there is an increasing number of women undergoing risk-reducing oophorectomy, which in most cases will be before age 45 years and will induce surgical menopause. Not all menopausal symptoms require treatment, but patients with cancer may experience more severe symptoms compared with women undergoing natural menopause. Moreover, there is increasing evidence of the long-term implications of early menopause, including bone loss, cognitive decline and increased cardiovascular risk. Systemic hormone therapy is well established as the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms and vaginal (topical) estrogen therapy is effective for genitourinary symptoms. However, the role of hormone receptors in many gynecological cancers and their treatment pose a challenge to the management of menopausal symptoms after cancer. Consequently, the use of menopausal hormone therapy in this setting can be difficult for clinicians to navigate and this article aims to provide current, comprehensive guidance for the use of menopausal hormone replacement therapy in women who have had, or are at risk of developing, gynecological cancer to assist with these treatment decisions.
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