Postmenopausal bleeding: a practical approach.
OBJECTIVE
To provide nurse practitioners (NPs) with a practical approach for the management of postmenopausal bleeding in office settings.


METHODS
Selected scientific literature and the author's own experience.


CONCLUSIONS
Postmenopausal bleeding should be considered cancer until proven otherwise, despite the fact that abnormal pathology is found in only 15% of endometrial biopsies.


CONCLUSIONS
Post menopausal bleeding can be safely evaluated and managed by NPs using aspiration endometrial biopsies and/or transvaginal ultrasound. Hospitalization for dilation and curettage under anaesthesia can often be avoided.
McGregor
H F
HF
Regional Breast Cancer Program, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA. Helen.McGregor@nw.amedd.army.mil
D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D017698:Postmenopause; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging