An audit by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) found that 1 in 5 women suffer from HMB[1]Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. National Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Audit (May 2011). Last accessed August 2017, available with only 1 in 20 women aged 30-49 years consulting their GP each year for HMB and menstrual disorders. Prior to referral to secondary care, almost half of these women had 3 or more visits to the GP regarding HMB.
A recent survey of 1,000 women who had or previously had heavy periods illustrated that the impact of heavy periods goes beyond just the obvious physical symptoms. It was found that 74% have experienced anxiety, 73% nausea, 69% depression and 49% anaemia. Nearly two thirds of these women did not realise that ongoing HMB is a medical condition with 50% never visiting their GP to discuss the condition or what help is available.
