Patient Characteristics Associated With Seeking Healthcare for Menstrual Problems [22F

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Women often delay seeking medical help for heavy or irregular bleeding due to embarrassment or lack of knowledge. The study seeks to determine patient characteristics associated with obtaining healthcare for heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding. METHODS: This study analyzes data from a cross-sectional study of non-pregnant women ages 18–55 years who endorsed having heavy and/or irregular menstrual bleeding presenting to a primary care center. The questionnaire included questions on demographics, bleeding symptoms, and quality of life. The primary dependent variable was endorsing that they had ever sought medical care for menstrual bleeding problems. Independent variables included patient demographics as well as duration and severity of symptoms. RESULTS: 39 out of 145 women reported having irregular or heavy periods. Those who sought care were more likely to be older (mean age 36.6 vs 28.3) and white (57.7% vs 16.7%). No difference was seen in socioeconomic factors. Women who sought care were more likely to have longer duration of symptoms and increased severity of symptoms (higher MBQ scores [31.3 vs 18.6] and more concern about bleeding through clothing on a scale of 1–10 [median=10 vs 3]). CONCLUSION: Women who seek help for bleeding are more likely to have suffered from more severe symptoms for longer, possibly because they do not seek help until their symptoms become intolerable. These women were also more likely to be older and white. This information can be used to bring up bleeding during patient visits in order to decrease patient anxiety and embarrassment about bleeding problems.