Hysteroscopy in women with abnormal uterine bleeding on hormone replacement therapy: a comparison with postmenopausal bleeding.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the role of outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopy in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and to contrast this with a control group of women presenting with postmenopausal bleeding.


METHODS
Comparative observational study.


METHODS
Outpatient hysteroscopy clinic in a university hospital.


METHODS
Three hundred ten patients undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy.


METHODS
Outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy when indicated.


METHODS
Hysteroscopic findings, need for cervical dilatation and local anaesthesia, correlation between hysteroscopy and histologic diagnosis.


RESULTS
There were 157 (7.1%) patients with AUB on HRT and another 153 (6.9%) with postmenopausal bleeding out of 2,203 outpatient hysteroscopies. Hysteroscopy was successful in 97% and 92% of patients, respectively, and intrauterine pathology was diagnosed in 46.7% and 39.7% of these cases. Functional endometrium was noted significantly more often with HRT and endometrial atrophy with postmenopausal bleeding. Overall, local anesthesia was used in 126 (40.6%) and shown to be associated significantly with the need for cervical dilatation. Endometrial biopsy was attempted in 125 (80%) and 119 (78%) patients in the study and control groups, but was unsuccessful significantly more often with postmenopausal bleeding (38.7%) versus 16%). There were six cases of endometrial carcinoma, all in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high incidence of intrauterine abnormalities in women with menstrual symptoms while taking HRT, but the pathology differed from those with postmenopausal bleeding. As focal lesions are found commonly in such patients, their detection by diagnostic hysteroscopy should improve compliance with HRT as it would allow individualization of treatment.
Nagele
F
F
University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
O'Connor
H
H
Baskett
T F
TF
Davies
A
A
Mohammed
H
H
Magos
A L
AL
D001706:Biopsy; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology