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Heavy menstrual bleeding — defined as excessive bleeding that affects quality of life — reportedly affects as many as 50% of women during their lifetimes. To understand its underlying causes, researchers performed a meta-analysis of 53 studies — 45 conducted in secondary or tertiary care institutions and 8 conducted in community settings.
Key results were as follows:
Causes of heavy menstrual bleeding varied by age; structural disorders appeared to account for nearly 40% of adult cases (although data on these disorders were limited).
Bleeding disorders were highly prevalent, accounting for 30% of all cases (16% in adults and 39% in adolescents).
Von Willebrand disease and platelet function disorders were present in 8% and 9% of all cases, respe…