Rate and risk factors of inadequate endometrial tissues after endometrial sampling among Bhutanese women at the national referral hospital of Bhutan: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding needs careful and thorough assessment including ultrasound examination of endometrium and histopathological assessment of the endometrial tissues. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the rate and the factors associated with inadequate endometrial tissues after endometrial sampling using MedGyn® pipette among Bhutanese women at the colposcopy clinic, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH), Bhutan. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the colposcopy clinic, JDWNRH, Thimphu between October, 2021 and March, 2022. Women included in this study underwent endometrial sampling using MedGyn® pipette without anesthesia as an office procedure. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and results extracted into a structured pro forma. The histopathology reports were extracted from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, JDWNRH using the unique Bhutanese citizenship identity card number of the study participants. RESULTS: Inadequate endometrial tissues were noted in 27% (33 out of 122 cases). Among 89 patients with an adequate endometrial tissue, histologic results were normal in 30 (33.7%), benign pathology in 22 (24.7%), atrophy in 10 (8.2%), and hyperplasia in 27 (30.3%). In a univariate analysis, menopausal state (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.708-3.765), overweight and obese (OR 1.6 95% CI 0.640-3.945), unemployed (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.674-1.140), nulliparous (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.183-15.816), primipara (OR 5.1, 95% CI 0.635-40.905) and use of hormonal contraception (OR 2.1, 95% CI 0.449-10.049) were associated with increased risk of inadequate endometrial tissues. On multivariate regression analysis, nulliparity (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.101-12.061), overweight and obesity (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.490-3.917), use of hormonal contraceptives (OR 2.2, 95% CI 0.347-13.889), and junior surgeons (OR 1.1, 95%CI 0.463-2.443) were found to be associated with inadequate endometrial tissues. However, the above associations were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The rate of inadequate endometrial tissue following endometrial sampling using MedGyn® pipette was 27.0%. Factors associated with an increased risk of inadequate endometrial tissue after endometrial sampling were menopausal state, overweight and obese, unemployed, nulliparous, primipara and use of hormonal contraception.

Contributing factors related to abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women: a case-control study.

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) during the menopausal transition results in reproductive endocrine disorders and both physiological and pathological changes, substantially impacting women's health. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing AUB in perimenopausal women. Between April 2021 and June 2022, 120 perimenopausal women with AUB in the menopausal transition, diagnosed and treated at the Gynaecology Department of Kunming Tongren Hospital, were included in the case group. Concurrently, women undergoing routine health examinations at the same hospital were randomly selected as the control group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified factors related to AUB. The univariate analysis revealed significant associations (P < 0.05) between AUB and several factors, including age, body mass index (BMI), age at menarche, gravidity, and intrauterine device (IUD) placement in perimenopausal women. The multivariate regression analysis indicated that the independent risk factors for AUB include benign endometrial lesions (odds ratio [OR] 5.243, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.082-9.458, P < 0.001), endometrial thickness ≥ 10 mm (OR 1.573, 95% CI 0.984-3.287, P < 0.001), age ≥ 50 years (OR 2.045, 95% CI 1.035-4.762, P = 0.001), BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (OR 2.436, 95% CI 1.43-4.86, P = 0.002), and IUD placement (OR 2.458, 95% CI 1.253-4.406, P < 0.001). Abnormal uterine bleeding during the menopausal transition is associated with several factors, including age, BMI, and IUD placement, highlighting the importance of early screening for these risk factors in the diagnosis and treatment of AUB.

Enhanced Diagnostic Efficiency of Endometrial Carcinogenesis and Progression in Women with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding through Peripheral Blood Cytokine Testing: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the role of plasma cytokine detection in endometrial cancer screening and tumor progression assessment in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective cohort study of 287 patients with abnormal uterine bleeding, comprehensive clinical information and laboratory assessments, including cytokines, routine blood tests, and tumor markers, were performed. Associations between the clinical indicators and endometrial carcinogenesis/progression were evaluated. The independent risk factors for endometrial cancer and endometrial cancer with deep myometrial invasion were analyzed using multivariate binary logistic regression. Additionally, a diagnostic model was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of these identified risk factors. Results: In patients with abnormal uterine bleeding, low IL-4 and high IL-8 levels were independent risk factors for endometrial cancer (p < 0.05). Combining IL-4, IL-8, CA125, and menopausal status improved the accuracy of assessing endometrial cancer risk. The area under curve of the model is 0.816. High IL-6 and IL-8 levels were independent risk factors for deep myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial cancer (p < 0.05). Similarly, combining IL-6, IL-8, and Monocyte counts enhanced the accuracy of assessing endometrial cancer risk with deep myometrial invasion. The area under curve of the model is 0.753. Conclusions: Cytokines such as IL-4, IL-8, and IL-6 can serve as markers for monitoring endometrial cancer and its progression in women with abnormal uterine bleeding.

COVID-19 and abnormal uterine bleeding: potential associations and mechanisms.

The impact of COVID-19 on menstruation has received a high level of public and media interest. Despite this, uncertainty exists about the advice that women and people who menstruate should receive in relation to the expected impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection, long COVID or COVID-19 vaccination on menstruation. Furthermore, the mechanisms leading to these reported menstrual changes are poorly understood. This review evaluates the published literature on COVID-19 and its impact on menstrual bleeding, discussing the strengths and limitations of these studies. We present evidence consistent with SARS-CoV-2 infection and long COVID having an association with changes in menstrual bleeding parameters and that the impact of COVID vaccination on menstruation appears less significant. An overview of menstrual physiology and known causes of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is provided before discussing potential mechanisms which may underpin the menstrual disturbance reported with COVID-19, highlighting areas for future scientific study. Finally, consideration is given to the effect that menstruation may have on COVID-19, including the impact of the ovarian sex hormones on acute COVID-19 severity and susceptibility and reported variation in long COVID symptoms across the menstrual cycle. Understanding the current evidence and addressing gaps in our knowledge in this area are essential to inform public health policy, direct the treatment of menstrual disturbance and facilitate development of new therapies, which may reduce the severity of COVID-19 and improve quality of life for those experiencing long COVID.

The risk factors for premalignant and malignant endometrial polyps in premenopausal and postmenopausal women and trends over the past decade: A retrospective study in a single center, South Korea.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for premalignancy and malignancy in endometrial polyps and to evaluate trends over the past decade. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent hysteroscopic polypectomy at Inha University Hospital, South Korea between January 2013 and June 2023. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients reviewed to identify risk factors for premalignancy and malignancy in endometrial polyps included the following: age, parity, body mass index, menopausal status, abnormal uterine bleeding symptoms, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, polycystic ovarian syndrome, use of menopausal hormonal therapy or oral contraceptives, tamoxifen treatment in patients with breast cancer, and the number of polyps. RESULTS: In total, 725 patients were enrolled, among whom 52 (7.2 %) had premalignant and malignant lesions. In logistic regression analysis, menopause (OR: 8.37, 95 % CI [3.33-21.04]), abnormal uterine bleeding (OR: 7.42, 95 % CI [2.13-25.86]), obesity (OR: 3.22, 95 % CI [1.53-6.77]), multiple polyps (OR: 2.86, 95 % CI [1.39-5.88]) and nulliparity (OR: 2.64, 95 % CI [1.13-6.19]) were significantly associated with premalignancy and malignancy in polyps. Annual trends during the study period showed an increase in the number of patients with three of the five risk factors (obesity, multiple polyps, and nulliparity) and an increase in the prevalence of premalignancy and malignancy in polyps. CONCLUSIONS: Menopause, abnormal uterine bleeding, obesity, multiple polyps, and nulliparity increase the risk of premalignancy and malignancy in endometrial polyps. The prevalence of premalignant and malignant polyps has been increasing over the past decade. The risk factors that have contributed to this trend were obesity, nulliparity, and multiple polyps.

Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy and adverse clinical outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy has been recognised as a significant risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the association between vaginal bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy and clinical adverse effects using a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods: Databases of Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed (including Medline), Cochrane Library and Science Direct were searched until June of 2023. Data analysis using statistical test fixed- and random-effects models in the meta-analysis, Cochran and meta-regression. The quality of the eligible studies was assessed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale checklist (NOS).Results: A total of 46 relevant studies, with a sample size of 1,554,141 were entered into the meta-analysis. Vaginal bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy increases the risk of preterm birth (OR: 1.8, CI 95%: 1.6-2.0), low birth weight (LBW; OR: 2.0, CI 95%: 1.5-2.6), premature rupture of membranes (PROMs; OR: 2.3, CI 95%: 1.8-3.0), abortion (OR: 4.3, CI 95%: 2.0-9.0), stillbirth (OR: 2.5, CI 95%: 1.2-5.0), placental abruption (OR: 2.2, CI 95%: 1.4-3.3) and placenta previa (OR: 1.9, CI 95%: 1.5-2.4).Conclusions: Vaginal bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with preterm birth, LBW, PROMs, miscarriage, stillbirth, placental abruption and placenta previa. Therefore, physicians or midwives need to be aware of the possibility of these consequences and manage them when they occur.

Vaginal bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy increases the relative risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, premature rupture of membranes, abortion, stillbirth, placental abruption and placenta previa.

Ultrasound finding of endometrial polyp and factors increasing risk of malignancy.

This article presents a comprehensive review of factors that increase the risk of malignancy in ultrasound findings of an endometrial polyp. We collected original studies, reviews, and meta-analyses that dealt with the topic of endometrial polyps and the risk of developing endometrial cancer. Each presumed risk factor was analysed individually. According to searched studies, abnormal uterine bleeding, old age, and body mass index are valid risk factors for developing endometrial cancer in endometrial polyps. Lynch syndrome patients are also in a high-risk group for endometrial cancer. On the other hand, the number of polyps, their size, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and positive family history are factors with inconclusive results. There are either not enough data or different results among several studies.

Correlation Between the Clinical Diagnosis and Sonographic Diagnosis in Women with First-Trimester Vaginal Bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal bleeding is the most common cause of presentation at the emergency department in the first trimester. Clinical presentation helps determine the likely cause of first-trimester vaginal bleeding. However, ultrasound imaging is required to reach a definitive diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between clinical diagnosis and ultrasonographic findings in women with first-trimester vaginal bleeding. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted on 94 pregnant patients with a history of bleeding per vagina (PV) in the first trimester by using transvaginal ultrasound. RESULTS: PV spotting was noted in 64.9% and heavy bleeding in 35.1%. The most common clinically associated symptom was abdominal pain (68, 72.3%), and the least common clinically associated symptom was vesicle expulsion (2.1%). The most common predisposing factor was fever (31, 33.0%). The most frequent clinical diagnosis was threatened abortion (48, 51.1%), and the least common clinical diagnosis was gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) and inevitable abortion (1, 1.1%). The most common ultrasound diagnosis at the initial scan was incomplete abortion (19.2%), while at follow-up scans, it was threatened abortion (48, 51.1%). The overall concordance between clinical diagnosis and ultrasound was 38.8%, with both complete abortion and GTD showing a concordance of 100%. The least concordance was seen in missed abortions (25%). CONCLUSION: Clinical assessment is insufficient in the identification of the cause of vaginal bleeding due to the overall low concordance rate. A combination of clinical assessment and ultrasonography is required for decision-making in every case.

Neonatal uterine bleeding: Risk factors and its association with endometriosis-related symptoms later in life.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the prevalence and risk factors in association with neonatal uterine bleeding (NUB) by retrospective search of contemporary and historical medical records and investigated the possible association between the history of NUB at birth and endometriosis-related symptoms later in life who are now young women. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective case-controlled cohort study and prospective evaluation of web-based questionnaire survey on symptoms related to endometriosis among young women born with and without NUB. Multiple regression analysis was performed incorporating various confounding variables that may influence the occurrence of NUB or the reporting of endometriosis symptoms later in life. RESULTS: Among the 1093 female neonates born between 1996 and 2000, 105 of them had NUB, yielding with a prevalence of 9.6 %. Of the 807 female babies born between 2013 and 2017, 25 (3.1 %) had NUB. Multiple Logistic regression analysis indicated that younger age of the mother [odds ratio (OR) = 0.92, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.85-1.00, P = 0.048] and longer gestational age of 39 weeks (OR = 3.04, 95 % CI = 1.43-6.45, P = 0.004) and of ≥ 40 weeks (OR = 4.54, 95 % CI = 2.20-9.39, P < 0.0001) of gestation were significantly associated with the occurrence of NUB. While the possibility of recall bias cannot be ruled out, newborn females who had a history of NUB appeared to complain of various endometriosis-related symptoms later in life during adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the validity of the reported prevalence and risk factors of NUB. NUB indeed occurs with a prevalence of 3-10% during the historical and contemporary period. Longer gestational age and younger maternal age may be considered as high-risk factors for the occurrence of NUB. The clinical relevance of our findings remains to be elucidated. Future prospective studies, preferably with larger sample sizes and the inclusion of NUB cases after discharge from the hospital, may further illuminate some unresolved issues. We also need to confirm the endometriosis-related symptoms in women with and without history of NUB via more definitive diagnosis such as imaging and histology.

vNOTES retroperitoneal transient uterine artery occlusion: a new approach to control bleeding during a high-risk evacuation of products of conception.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a retroperitoneal transient occlusion of the uterine or internal iliac artery in conjunction with a high-risk evacuation of products of conception. The procedure was performed vaginally, minimally invasively, via vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. DESIGN: Description of the surgical technique using original video footage. This study was exempted from requiring hospital institutional review board approval. SETTING: Teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): A 34-year-old woman (G8P3) with a medical history of 2 cesarean sections, 1 partial mole, and a missed abortion with 2.8 L of blood loss. The patient presented after 10 weeks of amenorrhea. Ultrasound revealed a large blood-filled niche in the cesarean section scar with a thin overlying myometrium. A partial mole was suspected as well as increased vascularization in the myometrium and enhanced myometrial vascularity with arterial flow velocities of 100 cm/s. A risk of heavy blood loss in conjunction with curettage was anticipated. The patient had a strong preference for a fertility-preserving treatment, and after informed consent, she opted for transient occlusion of the uterine arteries with subsequent suction evacuation of the molar pregnancy. The patient signed a consent form accepting the procedure. The patient included in this video provided consent for publication of the video and posting of the video online including social media, the journal website, and scientific literature websites. Institutional review board approval was not required in accordance with the IDEAL guidelines. INTERVENTION(S): A vaginal incision was made over the bladder, and the vaginal mucosa was dissected. The paravesical space was dissected over the arcus tendinous, and the pelvic retroperitoneal space was opened. A small (7 cm) GelPOINT V-Path (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, California) was inserted into the obturator fossa and insufflated with 10 CO2 mm Hg. Standard laparoscopic instruments were used through the gel port. Under endoscopic view, dissection to the right obturator fossa and iliac vessels was made, and the internal iliac artery was identified. A removable clip was placed on the origin of the right uterine artery. The same procedure was performed on the left side where the internal iliac artery was clipped. Different vessels were clipped to demonstrate and investigate the feasibility of both approaches. Both vessels were equally accessible. Care should be taken not to injure the uterine vein at the time of clipping. Dilation and evacuation was performed under transanal ultrasound surveillance. When hemostatic control was assured, first, the right clip was removed from the iliac artery. Hemostatic control was ensured, and after 10 minutes, the second clip on the left iliac artery was removed. The GelPOINT was removed, and the vaginal incision was sutured. The patient bled in total 500 mL. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Not applicable. RESULT(S): The patient recovered swiftly without complications. Pathology confirmed a partial molar pregnancy. CONCLUSION(S): Uterine or internal iliac artery ligation can be lifesaving in situations with massive bleeding from the uterus. Current minimally invasive approaches are laparoscopic vessel ligation and, more commonly, uterine artery embolization, which has unclear impact on fertility and has shown an increased risk of intrauterine growth restriction, miscarriage, and prematurity. As the patient was undergoing a vaginal evacuation of pregnancy, a vaginal and retroperitoneal approach of artery ligation was deemed least invasive. In patients with fertility-preserving wishes, care should to be taken to avoid as much trauma as possible to the endometrium. Optimized blood control, and a shorter duration of using a curette, may potentially reduce the risk of endometrial damage. We present a novel minimally invasive approach via vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery-retroperitoneal transient occlusion of the internal iliac or uterine artery. The whole procedure can be performed by the operating gynecologist, and the occlusion is transient and can be reversed in a stepwise controlled manner.

ß-hCG secreting uterine PEComa.

A postmenopausal female patient presented with vaginal bleeding. Initial bloodwork revealed an elevated serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin level (ß-hCG). Pelvic MRI identified a complex heterogeneous uterine mass with central necrosis. She underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral saplingo-oopherectomy. Pathology reported a malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumour (PEComa). Postoperatively, her ß-hCG level returned to normal. ß-hCG secreting sarcomas are extremely rare, and to our knowledge, there has only been one previously reported case of a ß-hCG secreting PEComa. Based on the limited literature, these tumours may have a worse prognosis. The role of ß-hCG as a marker of treatment response and disease activity is unclear. Additional studies are required to further ascertain its role as a predictive and prognostic biomarker.

Reducing patient's perception of postoperative vaginal bleeding after laparoscopic hysterectomy via independent closure of the vaginal cuff angles (RCT).

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Determine if independently suturing the vaginal cuff angles in addition to running barbed suture has an effect on patients' perception of postoperative bleeding after laparoscopic hysterectomy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: University-based medical center. PATIENTS: Females ages 18-60 undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to either cuff closure via single layer of barbed suture (control) vs adding figure-of-eight stitches at each angle (intervention). A survey was given between 10 and 25 days after surgery inquiring about bleeding and dyspareunia. A second survey was given between postoperative days 90-114. Chart review was performed to record emergency room visits, complications, infections, and reoperations during the first 90 postoperative days. RESULTS: n = 117 patients were analyzed. 62 (control) and 55 (intervention). Groups were similar in terms of age (42.92 v 44.29p =.35), BMI (33.79 v 34.06p =.85), diabetes (5.26 % (3/55) v 15.09 % (8/53) p =.08) p =.97). Bleeding was decreased in intervention arm (24.19 % (15/62) v 9.09 % (5/55) p =.03). Median (IQR) pelvic pain score was similar (2.0 (0-5.0) v 2.0 (0-4.0) p =.26). Median total operative time (IQR) (129 min (102, 166) v 139 min (120, 163) p =.39) and median EBL (IQR) (50 mL (30-75) vs 50 mL (20-75) p =.43) were similar. Cuff closure in seconds (IQR) was higher in intervention group (373 sec (323, 518) v 571 sec (520, 715) p <.01). 8/60 control patients visited the ED (13.33 %) v 7/54 (12.96 %) p =.95. Readmissions (1.67 % (1/60) v 1.85 % (1/55) p = 1), re-operations (0 % (0/60) v 1.85 % (1/55) p =.47) and postoperative infections (5.0 % (3/60) v 1.85 % (1/54) p =.62) were similar. Secondary survey showed no significant difference in bleeding (15.38 % (4/26) v 4.35 % (1/23) p =.35) and SF-36 results were similar. CONCLUSION: Independently suturing the vaginal cuff angles reduces patients' perception of vaginal bleeding in the early postoperative period. Incidence of complications, reoperations, and long-term quality of life are similar.

Comparing letrozole and mifepristone pre-treatment in medical management of first trimester missed miscarriage: a prospective open-label non-inferiority randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether letrozole pre-treatment is non-inferior to mifepristone pre-treatment, followed by misoprostol, for complete evacuation in the medical treatment of first-trimester missed miscarriage. DESIGN: Prospective open-label non-inferiority randomised controlled trial. SETTING: A university-affiliated hospital. POPULATION: We recruited 294 women diagnosed with first-trimester missed miscarriage who opted for medical treatment. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to: (i) the mifepristone group, who received 200 mg mifepristone orally followed 24-48 h later by 800 µg misoprostol vaginally; or (ii) the letrozole group, who received 10 mg letrozole orally once-a-day for 3 days, followed by 800 µg misoprostol vaginally on the third (i.e. last) day of letrozole administration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the rate of complete evacuation without surgical intervention at 42 days post-treatment. Secondary outcomes included induction-to-expulsion interval, adverse effects, women's satisfaction, number of doses of misoprostol required, duration of vaginal bleeding, pain score on the day of misoprostol administration and other adverse events. RESULTS: The complete evacuation rates were 97.8% (95% CI 95.1%-100%) and 97.2% (95% CI 94.4%-99.9%) in the letrozole and mifepristone groups, respectively (p ≤ 0.001 for non-inferiority). The mean induction-to-tissue expulsion interval in the letrozole group was longer compared with the mifepristone group (15.4 vs 9.0 h) (p = 0.03). The letrozole group had less heavy post-treatment bleeding and an earlier return of menses. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of doses of misoprostol required, the duration of vaginal bleeding, the pain score on the day of misoprostol administration and the rate of other adverse events between the two groups. The majority of the women (91.2% and 93.9% in the letrozole and mifepristone groups, respectively) were satisfied with their treatment option. CONCLUSIONS: Letrozole is non-inferior to mifepristone as a pre-treatment, followed by misoprostol, for the medical treatment of first-trimester missed miscarriage.

Postmenopausal bleeding after COVID-19 vaccination.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing literature base regarding menstrual changes following COVID-19 vaccination among premenopausal people. However, relatively little is known about uterine bleeding in postmenopausal people following COVID-19 vaccination. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine trends in incident postmenopausal bleeding diagnoses over time before and after COVID-19 vaccine introduction, and to describe cases of new-onset postmenopausal bleeding after COVID-19 vaccination. STUDY DESIGN: For postmenopausal bleeding incidence calculations, monthly population-level cohorts consisted of female Kaiser Permanente Northwest members aged ≥45 years. Those diagnosed with incident postmenopausal bleeding in the electronic medical record were included in monthly numerators. Members with preexisting postmenopausal bleeding or abnormal uterine bleeding, or who were at increased risk of bleeding due to other health conditions, were excluded from monthly calculations. We used segmented regression analysis to estimate changes in the incidence of postmenopausal bleeding diagnoses from 2018 through 2021 in Kaiser Permanente Northwest members meeting the inclusion criteria, stratified by COVID-19 vaccination status in 2021. In addition, we identified all members with ≥1 COVID-19 vaccination between December 14, 2020 and August 14, 2021, who had an incident postmenopausal bleeding diagnosis within 60 days of vaccination. COVID-19 vaccination, diagnostic procedures, and presumed bleeding etiology were assessed through chart review and described. A temporal scan statistic was run on all cases without clear bleeding etiology. RESULTS: In a population of 75,530 to 82,693 individuals per month, there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of incident postmenopausal bleeding diagnoses before and after COVID-19 vaccine introduction (P=.59). A total of 104 individuals had incident postmenopausal bleeding diagnosed within 60 days following COVID-19 vaccination; 76% of cases (79/104) were confirmed as postvaccination postmenopausal bleeding after chart review. Median time from vaccination to bleeding onset was 21 days (range: 2-54 days). Among the 56 postmenopausal bleeding cases with a provider-attributed etiology, the common causes of bleeding were uterine or cervical lesions (50% [28/56]), hormone replacement therapy (13% [7/56]), and proliferative endometrium (13% [7/56]). Among the 23 cases without a clear etiology, there was no statistically significant clustering of postmenopausal bleeding onset following vaccination. CONCLUSION: Within this integrated health system, introduction of COVID-19 vaccines was not associated with an increase in incident postmenopausal bleeding diagnoses. Diagnosis of postmenopausal bleeding in the 60 days following receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination was rare.

Effect of a single dose of a combination injectable contraceptive for treatment of bothersome uterine bleeding in contraceptive implant(s) users: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the proportion of participants whose uterine bleeding/spotting was interrupted for at least 7 days during the month after they received a combined hormonal injection. We also evaluated bleeding at 21 days and 12 weeks after the injection. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 46 contraceptive implant users who presented with bothersome uterine bleeding/spotting. A single dose of a combination injectable contraceptive or placebo was administered intramuscularly at enrollment. RESULTS: The proportions of participants whose uterine bleeding/spotting was interrupted for at least 7 days the month after they received a combined hormonal injection were higher in the combination injectable contraception group than in the placebo group (87% vs 48%, p = 0.005). Participants who reported that they were bleeding free at 21 days after treatment were 52% and 35% in the combination injectable contraception group and placebo group, respectively (p = 0.24). At 12 weeks posttreatment, 17% of participants in the combination injectable contraception group and 4% in the placebo group reported cessation of bleeding with no recurrence (p = 0.34). The median days until the first bleeding interruption was shorter in the combination injectable contraception group compared with the placebo group (1 [interquartile range, 1-2] vs 8 [interquartile range, 1-28], p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The combination injectable contraception interrupted bothersome uterine bleeding/spotting in contraceptive implant(s) users compared with placebo. However, this effect was limited only within the month when the treatment was administered. IMPLICATIONS: Bothersome uterine bleeding/spotting is a common side effect leading to contraceptive implant(s) discontinuation. In implant users experiencing these symptoms with no estrogen contraindications, a combined injectable contraception appears to rapidly improve bleeding for the duration of injectable exposure (1 month).

A comparison of the effects of oral dydrogesterone and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device on quality of life and sexual function in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of cyclic oral dydrogesterone treatment and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG_IUD) on quality of life (QoL) and sexual function in patients diagnosed with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). STUDY DESIGN: The study was conducted at the University of Health Sciences Turkey Health Istanbul Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital, on 171 sexually active patients, aged 18-45, who were under a minimum of 6 months of treatment for AUB. 85 patients were treated with oral cyclic dydrogesterone, and 86 patients received LNG-IUD. Following a minimum of 6 months of treatment, these patients were recruited to the study and were asked to complete a 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). RESULTS: When the FSFI scores of the patients were compared, it was observed that the total FSFI score was significantly higher in the cyclic dydrogesterone group (p < 0.05). Likewise, it was observed that sexual desire, arousal, and lubrication domains were significantly higher in the cyclic dydrogesterone group (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the treatment groups in 7 out of the 8 dimensions of SF-36. The energy/vitality dimension was found to be significantly higher in the cyclic dydrogesterone group. CONCLUSION: Total FSFI score, as well as sexual desire, arousal, and lubrication scores, were significantly higher in the cyclic dydrogesterone group compared to the LNG-IUD group indicating that cyclic dydrogesterone has a more positive impact on sexual function when compared to LNG-IUD.

Pulmonary embolism after diagnostic curettage in patient with adenomyosis and hysteromyoma: A case report and brief review of literature.

RATIONALE: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cause of cardiovascular death whose major acquired risk factors include postoperative states, pregnancy, malignancy, and age. We report a case of PE that occurred after diagnostic curettage for abnormal uterine bleeding, with a medical history of adenomyosis and hysteromyoma. PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSES: A 31-year-old Han Chinese female was referred to our hospital with menstrual disorders, increased menstrual flow, and severe anemia. After admission, the patient was treated with a blood transfusion, iron supplementation, and erythropoietin, and diagnostic curettage was performed the following day. On the first postoperative day, the patient developed pulmonary embolism with dyspnea and fever diagnosed by CT pulmonary angiography and significantly elevated D-dimer. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: Molecular weight heparin was administered for PE for 2 weeks, dyspnea was relieved significantly after 2 days of treatment and the uterine bleeding did not increase; and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists were administered for adenomyosis after 1 week of anticoagulant therapy to reduce bleeding. We followed up for 6 months, and the patient had no recurrence of thrombosis and uterine bleeding had improved. CONCLUSION: We speculate that the occurrence of pulmonary embolism was closely related to adenomyosis, hysteromyoma, and curettage in this patient. Treating the presence of both menstrual bleeding and thromboembolism is challenging, and careful management is necessary to avoid therapeutic contradictions.

Abnormal uterine bleeding due to uterine arteriovenous malformation in an early adolescent with intrauterine contraceptive device in situ.

We report a case of uterine arteriovenous malformation in an early adolescent who presented with heavy vaginal bleeding 2 months after termination of pregnancy with copper intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) insertion. The patient was admitted and had medical treatment, including blood transfusion and subsequently transcatheter embolisation of the arteriovenous malformation to control her bleeding. The IUCD was left in situ. Her symptoms completely resolved by 4 months post-procedure.

Performance of the WID-qEC test versus sonography to detect uterine cancers in women with abnormal uterine bleeding (EPI-SURE): a prospective, consecutive observational cohort study in the UK.

BACKGROUND: To detect uterine cancer, simpler and more specific index tests are needed to triage women with abnormal uterine bleeding to a reference histology test. We aimed to compare the performance of conventional index imaging tests with the novel WID-qEC DNA methylation test in terms of detecting the presence or absence of uterine cancers in women with abnormal uterine bleeding. METHODS: EPI-SURE was a prospective, observational study that invited all women aged 45 years and older with abnormal uterine bleeding attending a tertiary gynaecological diagnostic referral centre at University College London Hospital (London, UK) to participate. Women meeting these inclusion criteria who consented to participate were included. Pregnant women and those with previous hysterectomy were excluded. A cervicovaginal sample for the WID-qEC test was obtained before standard assessment using index imaging tests (ie, ultrasound) and, where applicable, reference histology (ie, biopsy, hysteroscopy, or both) was performed. Technicians performing the WID-qEC test were masked to the final clinical outcome. The result of the WID-qEC test is defined as the sum of the percentage of fully methylated reference (ΣPMR) of the ZSCAN12 and GYPC regions. Patients were followed until diagnostic resolution or until June 12, 2023. The primary outcome was to assess the real-world performance of the WID-qEC test in comparison with ultrasound with regard to the area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. EPI-SURE is registered with ISRCTN (16815568). FINDINGS: From June 1, 2022, to Nov 24, 2022, 474 women were deemed eligible to participate. 74 did not accept the invitation to participate, and one woman withdrew after providing consent. 399 women were included in the primary analysis cohort. Based on 603 index imaging tests, 186 (47%) women were recommended for a reference histology test (ie, biopsy, hysteroscopy, or both). 12 women were diagnosed with cancer, 375 were not diagnosed with cancer, and 12 had inconclusive clinical outcomes and were considered study dropouts. 198 reference histology test procedures detected nine cases of cancer and missed two; one further cancer was directly diagnosed at hysterectomy without a previous reference test. The AUC for detection of uterine cancer based on endometrial thickness in mm was 87·2% (95% CI 71·1-100·0) versus 94·3% (84·7-100·0) based on WID-qEC (p=0·48). Endometrial thickness assessment on ultrasound scan was possible in 379 (95%) of the 399 women and a prespecified cut-off of 4·5 mm or more showed a sensitivity of 90·9% (95% CI 62·3-98·4), a specificity of 79·1% (74·5-82·9), a positive predictive value of 11·8% (6·5-20·3), and a negative predictive value of 99·6% (98·0-99·9). The WID-qEC test was possible in 390 (98%) of the 399 patients with a sensitivity of 90·9% (95% CI 62·3-98·4), a specificity of 92·1% (88·9-94·4), a positive predictive value of 25·6% (14·6-41·1), and a negative predictive value of 99·7% (98·3-99·9), when the prespecified threshold of 0·03 ΣPMR or more was applied. When a higher threshold (≥0·3 ΣPMR) was applied the specificity increased to 97·3% (95% CI 95·1-98·5) without a change in sensitivity. INTERPRETATION: The WID-qEC test delivers fast results and shows improved performance compared with a combination of imaging index tests. Triage of women with abnormal uterine bleeding using the WID-qEC test could reduce the number of women requiring histological assessments for identification of potential malignancy and specifically reduce the false positive rate. FUNDING: The Eve Appeal, Land Tirol, and the European Research Council under the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme.