MENORRHAGIA

Ask the Following Questions:

1. Is there persistent or recurring abdominal or pelvic pain? The presence of pain with menorrhagia should make one suspect PID, endometriosis, and ectopic pregnancy.
2. Are there abnormalities on the pelvic examination? The pelvic examination will usually be positive in cases of uterine fibroid, pregnancy, cervical polyp, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy. Endometriosis may not always be detected on pelvic examination.
3. Is there anemia or other systemic symptoms or signs? The clinician should remember that iron deficiency anemia, hypothyroidism, lupus erythematosus, and cirrhosis of the liver are just a few of the systemic conditions that may present with menorrhagia.

DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP

Routine studies include a CBC, sedimentation rate, urinalysis, pregnancy test, chemistry panel, ANA titer, VDRL test, coagulation profile, thyroid profile, and flat plate of the abdomen. A Pap smear and vaginal smear and culture should be done.

If these tests are negative, referral to a gynecologist should be made before undertaking expensive tests such as pelvic ultrasound or CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis. Some clinicians will probably ignore this advice. A gynecologist will often be able to resolve the diagnostic dilemma with a good pelvic examination. Laparoscopy, culdocentesis, endometrial biopsy, and dilation and curettage are just a few of the diagnostic tools at his disposal.

Book Source Details

• Book Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
• Author(s): R. Douglas Collins
• Year of Publication: 2003
• Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Other Book Chapters Related to Menstrual irregularities

Read excerpts from these other book chapters related to Menstrual irregularities:

Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.

More About Causes of Menstrual irregularities

• Back to symptom: Menstrual irregularities: Introduction (review 369 causes)
• Next Book Extract About Menstrual irregularities: METRORRHAGIA (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• All Book Extracts: All Online Book Extracts for Menstrual irregularities

More About This Book: Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs Authors: R. Douglas Collins Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 0-7817-3805-9

 » Next page: METRORRHAGIA (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• METRORRHAGIA (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• CRAMPS, MENSTRUAL (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• Amenorrhea (In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
• Dysmenorrhea (In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
• Amenorrhea – Secondary (In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms)

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Related medical articles for Menstrual conditions:
• Take a survey relating to Menstrual irregularities
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City