Pictorial methods to assess heavy menstrual bleeding in research and clinical practice: a systematic literature review.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Pictorial blood loss assessment charts (PBACs) represent the most widely used method to assess menstrual blood loss (MBL) in clinical trials. The aims of this review were to: (1) determine the diagnostic accuracy of PBACs that have been validated against the reference alkaline hematin technique; (2) categorize the pitfalls of using obsolete and nonvalidated charts; (3) provide guidelines for development of a new PBAC or use of an existing chart to measure MBL in clinical trials; and (4) consider the feasibility of using pictorial charts in primary care. METHODS:A literature review was conducted using Embase and MEDLINE databases. The review identified reports of women with self-perceived or actual heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), bleeding disorders, abnormal uterine bleeding, lei

SUBMITTER: Magnay JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7011238 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature