Epidemiology

In the UK:

• menorrhagia is responsible for 12% of all gynaecological referrals annually (1)
• approximately 22% of healthy premenopausal women aged over 35 years are affected (1)
• around 1 in 20 women aged 30 to 49 will consult their GP because of heavy menstrual bleeding (2).
  • of these, only 40% will have measured blood loss greater than 80ml
  • excessive bleeding that interferes with a woman’s physical, social, emotional, and/or material quality of life, is termed ‘heavy menstrual bleeding' (3)

Approximately 400,000 hysterectomies are performed for menorrhagia each year.

• during the early 1990s, around 60% of women presenting with heavy menstrual bleeding would undergo a hysterectomy (often as first line treatment) in order to resolve the problem (3).

References:

1. Mohan S et al. Menorrhagia: recommended treatments in primary care. Prescriber 2009;19
2. Duckitt K, Collins S. Menorrhagia. Clin Evid (Online). 2008;2008. pii: 0805
3. Heavy menstrual bleeding: assessment and management. NG88. NICE Guideline (March 2018 - updated May 2021)