title: The safety and acceptability of Pipelle endometrial sampling in premenopausal women in comparison to postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess the safety and acceptability of Pipelle endometrial sampling in premenopausal women in comparison to postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective observational study including a total of 346 patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) who were divided into two groups, premenopausal group (N.=210) and postmenopausal group (N.=136). Primary outcome was safety and adequacy of Pipelle sampler. Secondary outcome included patients' acceptability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain scores by Visual Analogue Scale were significantly higher in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women (6.5±1.13 versus 4.85±0.86, P<0.001) during Pipelle endometrial sampling. There was also a higher rate of tenaculum use and analgesic requirements with less adequacy of the sample and less acceptability in postmenopausal women (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pipelle endometrial sampling is more painful, less adequate and less acceptable in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women with AUB. Further larger trials are needed to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt - m_rezk9207@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezk
authors.forename: Ragab
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dawood
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*