Managing women with post-coital bleeding: a prospective observational non-comparative study

Clinical indications referrals – what is the risk of premalignant and malignant female genital tract disease in women referred to a dedicated nurse-led colposcopy service? A retrospective cohort study

Post-coital bleeding (PCB) is a poor predictive factor for cancer and should not be managed as urgent referral. Urgent referral to colposcopy is justified however, in the presence of a visible suspicion of cervical cancer. This retrospective cohort study of women attending a clinical indications referral service aims to identify the risk of pre-malignant and malignant disease in women with clinical indication referrals to colposcopy. Thirty-seven of 3521 women (1%) were diagnosed with pre-malignant cervical or endometrial disease; 14 women (0.4%) were diagnosed with cancer (11 cervix, three endometrial). To detect one cancer in women referred with an abnormal cervix, one would need to see 70 women; to detect one cancer in women referred with PCB one would need to see 790 women. Improved education in primary care and obstetrics and gynaecology training is key to improving clinical indications referral services, which is otherwise an effective and efficient service.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Post-coital bleeding is a poor predictive factor for cancer and should not be considered an urgent referral.What do the results of this study add? The presence of a visible suspicion of cervical cancer however does warrant urgent referral as approximately one in 70 women will have a malignancy detected.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Improved education in primary care and obstetrics and gynaecology training is the key to improving clinical indications referral services.

Postcoital bleeding is a predictor for cervical dysplasia

Background

Postcoital bleeding (PCB) is a common gynecological symptom that may cause concern among both patients and physicians. Current literature is inconclusive regarding management recommendations.

Objective

To identify risk-factors for dysplasia/cancer among patients presenting post-coital bleeding (PCB).

Methods

Using large health maintenance organization (HMO) database, all women reporting PCB in 2012–2015 were identified. PCB patient records in a single colposcopy center were reviewed. Age, marital status, ethnicity, gravidity, parity, BMI, smoking, PAP smear result (within 1 year of PCB presentation), colposcopy and biopsy results were recorded. Cases were matched by age and socio-economic enumeration area to controls accessing primary care clinics for routine care.

Results

Yearly incidence of PCB ranged from 400 to 900 per 100,000 women; highest among patients aged 26–30 years. Among the sample of 411 PCB cases with colposcopy, 201 (48.9%) had directed biopsy. Biopsy results included 68 cervicitis (33.8%), 61 koilocytosis/CIN 1/condyloma (30.3%), 44 normal tissue (21.9%), 25 cervical polyp (12.4%), 2 CIN 2/3 (1%) and 1 carcinoma (0.5%). Positive predictive value for koilocytosis/CIN 1 or higher pathology was 15.6% (64/411) and 0.7% for CIN 2 or higher grade pathology (3/411). In conditional logistic regression, multiparty was a protective factor: OR 0.39 (95% CI 0.22–0.88, P = 0.02), while pathological PAP smear was a related risk-factor: OR 3.3 (95% CI 1.31–8.35, P = 0.01). When compared to controls, PCB patients were significantly (P = 0.04) more likely to present CIN 1 or higher grade pathology (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.02–3.33).

Conclusions

Study results indicate that PCB may require colposcopy, especially for nulliparous women with an abnormal PAP smear.

[Postcoital bleeding: 68 case-reports and review of the literature]

L'acte sexuel consenti ou imposé, peut être à l'origine des traumatismes. L'hémorragie post coïtale est un symptôme gynécologique commun. Elle peut révéler de sérieux problèmes. Le but de notre travail est d’étudier le profil épidémiologique, diagnostique et thérapeutique ainsi que les moyens préventifs en cas de déchirure post coïtale. Il s'agit d'une étude prospective, étalée sur deux ans, mené au service de gynécologie obstétrique du CHU Med VI de Marrakech. Nous avons colligé 68 patientes. L’âge moyen est de 27 ans, la majorité des patientes étaient des nullipares soit 89,7% des cas. La moitié des patientes avaient un mariage traditionnel. Le rapport était consentent dans 74% des cas. L'hémorragie génitale a constitue le motif de consultation le plus fréquent soit 98% des cas. Les lésions hyménales ont été retrouvées dans 39% des cas et la lésion siégeait dans le cul de sac postérieur chez 35% des cas. La prise en charge thérapeutique a consisté en une suture chirurgicale chez 97% des cas, associé à une transfusion sanguine chez deux patientes et une abstinence sexuelle pendant minimum deux semaines chez toutes nous patientes. Le contexte social ainsi que le manque d’éducation sexuelle sont souvent incriminé d'où l'intérêt d'une prise en charge psychologique pour prévenir aussi bien le retentissement du traumatisme sur la sexualité que les récidives.