Preference on the Treatments for Menorrhagia in Hong Kong Chinese Women

• Published in: Gynecologic and obstetric investigation Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 97 - 101
• Main Authors: Leung, Pui Ling, Ng, Pui Shan, Tam, Wing Hung, Yuen, Pong Mo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.01.2005; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Female genital diseases; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hong Kong; Humans; Medical sciences; Menorrhagia - drug therapy; Menorrhagia - surgery; Menorrhagia - therapy; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases; Original Article; Patient Satisfaction; Surveys and Questionnaires; Hong Kong; Asia; China; Hong Kong China; Menorrhagia, knowledge; L-Norgestrel-releasing intrauterine device; Menorrhagia, treatment options; Menorrhagia, Chinese women; Menorrhagia, preferences; Human; Menstruation disorders; Gynecology; Hemorrhage; Obstetrics; Menorrhagia; Female genital diseases; Treatment; Preference; Uterine diseases; Adult; Female
• ISSN: 0378-7346; 1423-002X
• DOI: 10.1159/000082577

Background: Menorrhagia is a common gynecological problem and its management options vary from medical to surgical treatment. With the development of the new minimally invasive therapies, there is a paucity of data in the preference and acceptance on these treatment options, especially in the Chinese population. Methods: An anonymous survey using a self-constructed questionnaire was undertaken on women with heavy menstrual bleeding referred to the specialty clinic in a university teaching hospital. The aim was to elicit women’s knowledge and preferences for the treatment options for menorrhagia. Results: A total of 200 Chinese women returned their questionnaire with a response rate of 62%. Over 90% of them were unaware of other alternative treatment options for menorrhagia. Eumenorrhea was the desired treatment outcome in 173 (86.5%) women while only 15 (7.5%) and 12 (6%) wished to have oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea respectively. Drug therapy was the preferred first-line treatment in 87% and none preferred to undergo hysterectomy. When the medical treatment failed, 16% of women would not accept any other forms of treatment. For the rest of them, an L-norgestrel-releasing intrauterine device was the preferred option in 53.6%, endometrial ablation in 19%, while only 5.4% would prefer hysterectomy. Conclusion: The awareness of alternative treatment options for menorrhagia in Hong Kong Chinese women is very deficient and eumenorrhea is the desired treatment outcome, rather than oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea.