Oral micronised flavonoids versus tranexamic acid for treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding secondary to copper IUD use: a randomised double-blind clinical trial

To Study the Efficacy and Safety of Diosmin with Tranexamic Acid and Mefenamic Acid Versus only Tranexamic Acid and Mefenamic Acid in Medical Management of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common problem in reproductive age group and perimenopausal age group being responsible for many outpatient visits. Traditional management of AUB consists of giving mefenamic acid, tranexamic acid, or their combination with progestogens or hormonal intrauterine deviced levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) for severe or nonresponsive cases. The objective of the current study was to study the efficacy and safety of adding diosmin along with tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid in reducing menstrual blood loss in AUB patients.

Materials and Methods

It was a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial in which 900 mg of diosmin was given once daily along with 500 mg tranexamic acid and 250 mg mefenamic acid during menstruation (Group I-92 patients), or only tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid during menstruation (Group II-92 patients).

Results

Mean age, parity, body mass index, and socioeconomic status were similar in the two groups. It was 35.68 years versus 36.78 years, 2.2 versus 2.3, 23.68 kg/m2 versus 24.62 kg/m2 respectively. Mean days of bleeding before this treatment were 6.8 versus 6.6 (P = 0.33) and were 3.5 versus 5.2 (P = 0.02) after treatment. There was a significant reduction in both groups as compared to before treatment (P = 0.021 in Group I, 0.027 in Group II) but the reduction was greater in Group I (P = 0.02). The amount of blood loss was 385 ml versus 390 ml (P = 0.7) before treatment which was significantly reduced in both groups to 68 ml versus 112 ml (P = 0.02 in Group I, 0.03 in Group II) with more decrease in Group I than in Group II (P = 0.01). Mean hemoglobin at beginning of the study was 8.4 versus 8.5 g/dl in Group I and Group II (P = 0.02) and significantly increased in both groups posttreatment to 10.9 and 9.8 g/dl in Group I and Group II (P = 0.012 in Group I, 0.011 in Group II) with increase being more in Group I than Group II (P = 0.03). Pictorial blood assessment chart score was 398 versus 406 (P = 0.35) before treatment and decreased significantly to 86.5 and 110.5 (P = 0.001 in Group I, 0.001 in Group II) with more decrease being in Group I than II (P = 0.01). There was significant decrease in dysmenorrhea with both treatments with no difference in the two groups. Various adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and headache were equal in the two groups.

Conclusion

Both the group's diosmin with tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid (Group I) and tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid (Group II) were efficacious in reducing menstrual blood loss, number of menstrual days and dysmenorrhea with effect being more by addition of diosmin. Adverse effects were equal in both the two groups.

Interventions to prevent or treat heavy menstrual bleeding or pain associated with intrauterine-device use

BACKGROUND

Heavy menstrual bleeding and pain are common reasons women discontinue intrauterine device (IUD) use. Copper IUD (Cu IUD) users tend to experience increased menstrual bleeding, whereas levonorgestrel IUD (LNG IUD) users tend to have irregular menstruation. Medical therapies used to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding or pain associated with Cu and LNG IUD use include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-fibrinolytics and paracetamol. We analysed treatment and prevention interventions separately because the expected outcomes for treatment and prevention interventions differ. We did not combine different drug classes in the analysis as they have different mechanisms of action. This is an update of a review originally on NSAIDs. The review scope has been widened to include all interventions for treatment or prevention of heavy menstrual bleeding or pain associated with IUD use.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have assessed strategies for treatment and prevention of heavy menstrual bleeding or pain associated with IUD use, for example, pharmacotherapy and alternative therapies.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL to January 2021.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included RCTs in any language that tested strategies for treatment or prevention of heavy menstrual bleeding or pain associated with IUD (Cu IUD, LNG IUD or other IUD) use. The comparison could be no intervention, placebo or another active intervention.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and risk of bias, and extracted data. Primary outcomes were volume of menstrual blood loss, duration of menstruation and painful menstruation. We used a random-effects model in all meta-analyses. Review authors assessed the certainty of evidence using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

This review includes 21 trials involving 3689 participants from middle- and high-income countries. Women were 18 to 45 years old and either already using an IUD or had just had one placed for contraception. The included trials examined NSAIDs and other interventions. Eleven were treatment trials, of these seven were on users of the Cu IUD, one on LNG IUD and three on an unknown type. Ten were prevention trials, six focused on Cu IUD users, and four on LNG IUD users. Sixteen trials had high risk of detection bias due to subjective assessment of pain and bleeding. Treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding Cu IUD Vitamin B1 resulted in fewer pads used per day (mean difference (MD) -7.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) -8.50 to -5.50) and fewer bleeding days (MD -2.00, 95% CI -2.38 to -1.62; 1 trial; 110 women; low-certainty evidence) compared to placebo. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of naproxen on the volume of menstruation compared to placebo (odds ratio (OR) 0.09, 95% CI 0.00 to 1.78; 1 trial, 40 women; very low-certainty evidence). Treatment with mefenamic acid resulted in less volume of blood loss compared to tranexamic acid (MD -64.26, 95% CI -105.65 to -22.87; 1 trial, 94 women; low-certainty evidence). However, there was no difference in duration of bleeding with treatment of mefenamic acid or tranexamic acid (MD 0.08 days, 95% CI -0.27 to 0.42, 2 trials, 152 women; low-certainty evidence). LNG IUD The use of ulipristal acetate in LNG IUD may not reduce the number of bleeding days in 90 days in comparison to placebo (MD -9.30 days, 95% CI -26.76 to 8.16; 1 trial, 24 women; low-certainty evidence). Unknown IUD type Mefenamic acid may not reduce volume of bleeding compared to Vitex agnus measured by pictorial blood assessment chart (MD -2.40, 95% CI -13.77 to 8.97; 1 trial; 84 women; low-certainty evidence). Treatment of pain Cu IUD Treatment with tranexamic acid and sodium diclofenac may result in little or no difference in the occurrence of pain (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.06 to 17.25; 1 trial, 38 women; very low-certainty evidence). Unknown IUD type Naproxen may reduce pain (MD 4.10, 95% CI 0.91 to 7.29; 1 trial, 33 women; low-certainty evidence). Prevention of heavy menstrual bleeding Cu IUD We found very low-certainty evidence that tolfenamic acid may prevent heavy bleeding compared to placebo (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.85; 1 trial, 310 women). There was no difference between ibuprofen and placebo in blood volume reduction (MD -14.11, 95% CI -36.04 to 7.82) and duration of bleeding (MD -0.2 days, 95% CI -1.40 to 1.0; 1 trial, 28 women, low-certainty evidence). Aspirin may not prevent heavy bleeding in comparison to paracetamol (MD -0.30, 95% CI -26.16 to 25.56; 1 trial, 20 women; very low-certainty evidence). LNG IUD Ulipristal acetate may increase the percentage of bleeding days compared to placebo (MD 9.50, 95% CI 1.48 to 17.52; 1 trial, 118 women; low-certainty evidence). There were insufficient data for analysis in a single trial comparing mifepristone and vitamin B. There were insufficient data for analysis in the single trial comparing tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid and in another trial comparing naproxen with estradiol. Prevention of pain Cu IUD There was low-certainty evidence that tolfenamic acid may not be effective to prevent painful menstruation compared to placebo (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.14; 1 trial, 310 women). Ibuprofen may not reduce menstrual cramps compared to placebo (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.11 to 8.95; 1 trial, 20 women, low-certainty evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this review should be interpreted with caution due to low- and very low-certainty evidence. Included trials were limited; the majority of the evidence was derived from single trials with few participants. Further research requires larger trials and improved trial reporting. The use of vitamin B1 and mefenamic acid to treat heavy menstruation and tolfenamic acid to prevent heavy menstruation associated with Cu IUD should be investigated. More trials are needed to generate evidence for the treatment and prevention of heavy and painful menstruation associated with LNG IUD.

Efficacy and Safety of Tranexamic Acid in Cancer Surgery. An Update of Clinical Findings and Ongoing Research

In cancer patients undergoing surgery, tumor biology and anticancer treatments can increase the risk of perioperative bleeding and blood transfusions. Notably, blood transfusions can be potentially associated with an increased risk of life-threatening immune responses, acute lung injury, postoperative infections, and thromboembolism. Moreover, the link between perioperative transfusion and increased risk of cancer recurrence cannot be excluded. On the other hand, cancer patients have an increased risk of thromboembolism due to cancer itself and antineoplastic systemic treatments including chemotherapy and anti-angiogenic drugs. In this complex scenario, effective and safe strategies aimed at the prevention of blood transfusions are warranted. This narrative review addresses the efficacy, and the safety of the synthetic antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid (TXA) when used perioperatively in cancer surgery. Although in not oncologic surgery the use of TXA has been extensively studied, in the setting of cancer patients requiring surgery, the evidence is scarce. An overview of the ongoing clinical research is also provided.

Practical Tips for Intrauterine Device Counseling, Insertion, and Pain Relief in Adolescents: An Update

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have endorsed intrauterine devices as first-line contraceptive choices for nulliparous and parous adolescents. Practical concerns about intrauterine devices might be barriers to use for teens and clinicians; this review is devoted to "practical tips" for clinicians, on the basis of an update of the available literature as well as the author's clinical experience. Counseling about contraceptive choices, preventive guidance about possible side effects, informed consent, and pain management are addressed to promote successful use of this long-acting reversible contraption option.