OHSU Awarded Over $2 Million To Support Research Of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

OHSU Awarded Over $2 Million To Support Research Of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Clinician-researchers at Oregon Health & Science University’s Center for Women’s Health have been awarded more than $2 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health to understand better treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding in people with chronic bleeding disorders — conditions that have been historically understudied.

“A variety of treatment options for heavy menstrual bleeding exist. However, few studies are focused on those with bleeding disorders, which makes it challenging for providers to offer truly informed decision-making,” said Maureen Baldwin, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology in the OHSU School of Medicine and principal investigator of the research.

“This work will allow us to determine the benefits and expected outcomes of treatment options for this population, which has been systematically excluded from previous trials.”

According to the research, adolescents and young adults have a high rate of Heavy menstrual bleeding, which is caused by a heritable bleeding disorder, a disease or blood factor deficiency inherited at birth that prevents blood from properly clotting.

Those affected by this disorder go through mental and emotional stress, and this affects their quality of life. Heavy menstrual bleeding may lead to difficulty with participation in education and activities of daily life, and excessive blood loss can cause anaemia and other health problems.

Effective treatment options are available, such as an IUD or oral pill, that can help decrease bleeding and improve quality of life by suppressing menstruation or slowing bleeding. However, the effectiveness of these treatments has not been studied in those specifically with bleeding disorders, leaving significant gaps in clinical knowledge.

This grant will enable OHSU and research partners nationwide to conduct a multicenter trial targeting adolescents and young adults with bleeding disorders to understand various treatments’ impact on bleeding management and quality of life.

Allison Wheeler, M.D., a pediatric haematologist at the University of Washington, and other haematologists, gynaecologists and adolescent medicine physicians who were part of the research team, conducted robust research with an average of 300 participants at eight sites.

They’ll follow participants in treatment for six months to determine the impact on their bleeding and quality of life. Part of the research team were several youths who were living with bleeding disorder and heavy menstrual bleeding; this Youth Advisory Board will review study materials and oversee the report back of data to their community.

These insights will provide a wealth of information to guide counselling to patients, aid in treatment decisions, and generate data that will inform future clinical practice guidelines for patients with bleeding disorders.

“Bleeding disorders have been significantly understudied, and as a result, many patients who experience these health challenges are overlooked, dismissed and left to suffer in silence,” Baldwin said. “This work will help bridge this gap and provide much-needed evidence to improve the health and lives of patients who are impacted by heavy menstrual bleeding.”