Prevalence and knowledge of heavy menstrual bleeding among African American women

Abstract

Objective To assess self-reported prevalence, knowledge, and health literacy regarding heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) among African American women. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional survey study was conducted. An original survey was developed and distributed to a convenience sample of African American women aged 18–60 years at a community fair in a large city in the Midwestern region of the USA. Results Of the 274 surveys distributed, 247 were returned, 193 of which met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 163 (84.5%) participants demonstrated adequate health literacy; however, 168 (87.0%) answered fewer than 8 of 15 knowledge questions correctly. Although 75 (38.9%) women reported seeing a clinician for HMB, 89 (46.1%) believed that there was nothing that they could do to prevent it from occurring. Conclusion The present study found that the proportion of HMB among participants was higher than the nationwide prevalence. However, a gap existed in knowledge of HMB among the women surveyed. The study findings indicate an opportunity for community-based education to raise awareness of HMB, its associated clinical presentations, and available treatment modalities.

Soy-based Infant Formula Feeding and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Among Young African American Women

“…The impact of heavy menstrual bleeding on daily life can be substantial due to the extraordinary strategies needed to contain blood loss and prevent leaking through pads and tampons and staining clothing, bedding and furniture; 4, 5 some women with heavy menstrual bleeding report scheduling plans based on proximity and access to bathrooms, stopping daily activities, avoiding social activities, or missing days of work. 3-5 Similar to that reported in other studies of reproductive-age women, 2-5 our sample of young African American women reported a high frequency of heavy menstrual bleeding as well as the adverse impacts of menstrual bleeding on the quality of daily life.…”

“…1 This condition is common; a recent survey of African American women reported that 39% of women had seen a doctor for heavy menstrual bleeding. 2 Women have reported extraordinary strategies to cope with such bleeding, including missing work and avoiding activities that require leaving the home. 3-5 As such, U.S. women whose menstrual flow has increased over the past year are 28% less likely to be at work on any given week than women with lighter or unchanged menstrual flow.…”

An Altered Perception of Normal: Understanding Causes for Treatment Delay in Women with Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids

“…9 For example, one survey study found that among African American women aged 18-60, 66.8% did not know that menstrual bleeding is considered excessive/prolonged if it lasts more than 7 days and 85.5% did not know the normal length of a menstrual cycle. 15 As one of the most common symptoms of fibroids, knowledge of normal menstrual patterns is vital to women's understanding of abnormal bleeding. While these studies have demonstrated women's lack of ability to identify abnormal menstruation, the present study makes a clear connection between how this altered perception of normal can directly cause women to delay obtaining a diagnosis.…”

Epidemiology and management of uterine fibroids

“…1 Fibroids are more common, tend to present at a younger age, are greater in number, and larger in size in women of African ancestry versus white or Asian women. 6,9 Other risk factors include obesity, nulliparity, hypertension, late menopause, early menarche, family history of fibroids, and older age. 1 The impact of diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol, stress, and other environmental factors on the pathogenesis of uterine fibroids remains less clear.…”