Research ArticleTools for Practice

NSAIDs for heavy menstrual bleeding

Jen Potter, Zainab Sari and Adrienne J. Lindblad
Canadian Family Physician August 2021, 67 (8) 598; DOI: https://doi.org/10.46747/cfp.6708598

Clinical question

In premenopausal heavy menstrual bleeding without pathologic cause, do nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) improve patient outcomes?

Bottom line

Based on low-quality evidence, NSAIDs reduce relative mean menstrual blood loss by about 30%, and about 20% to 50% fewer sanitary products are used than with placebo. Effects on bleeding duration are inconsistent.

Evidence

Evidence was focused on placebo-controlled RCTs. Menorrhagia, when defined, was more than 80 mL per cycle.

  • Naproxen: In 2 crossover RCTs (N = 4 each), baseline blood loss was about 140 mL. After 2 cycles of each treatment, mean blood loss decreased about 30% over placebo1 and 79% felt naproxen was better than placebo.2 There was no effect on bleeding duration.2

  • Ibuprofen: In 1 crossover RCT (N = 13),3 baseline blood loss was not stated. After 1 cycle of each treatment, mean blood loss decreased about 25% over placebo (1200 mg/d) and was not different from placebo (600 mg/d). There was no effect on bleeding duration.

  • Mefenamic acid: Evidence was 5 RCTs.

    • - The largest RCT (N = 80) followed 3 consecutive cycles.4

      • — “Relief” of menorrhagia (not defined): 86% versus 20%, number needed to treat (NNT) = 2.

      • — Pads per day: 15 at baseline, 7 with mefenamic acid (placebo not stated).

      • — Bleeding days: 10 at baseline, 4 with mefenamic acid (placebo not stated).

    • - In 3 RCTs (2 crossover; N = 49), mefenamic acid was better than placebo.

      • —Mean blood loss was about 10% to 40% lower than placebo.1

      • —“ Responded” (undefined): 79% versus 18% (placebo), NNT = 2.5,6

    • - In 1 crossover RCT (N = 15), there was no difference in blood loss.7

  • Mefenamic acid versus diclofenac: In 1 RCT of 68 women, only 1 completed all study follow-up.8

    • - Median number of pads used (baseline unknown) was 21 versus 10 (diclofenac).

    • - Number of bleeding days (baseline unknown) was 6 versus 4 (diclofenac).

  • Naproxen versus mefenamic acid: In 1 crossover RCT (N = 35),9 both groups improved similarly compared with baseline. Blood loss decreased by about 47%, there were 0.8 fewer days of bleeding, and tampon number decreased from about 31 to 24.

Context

  • Blood loss does not correlate with patient experience.1

  • The NSAIDs were used just before and during menses.

  • Mefenamic acid costs about $20 per cycle; naproxen and ibuprofen are approximately $4 each per cycle.1

Implementation

The NSAIDs are well tolerated.6 Discontinuations due to adverse effects are similar between mefenamic acid and naproxen.9 The NSAIDs may be less effective in reducing menstrual blood loss than levonorgestrel intrauterine systems (LNG-IUS)10; guidelines recommend LNG-IUS over combined oral contraceptives, luteal-phase progestins, antifibrinolytics, and NSAIDs.11 However, nonhormonal methods may be more appropriate for some patients, (eg, when contraception or hormonal treatments are not desired). Antifibrinolytics are another nonhormonal option. Based on 2 small RCTs, 87% of those taking tranexamic acid may “improve” compared with 61% taking NSAIDs.12

Notes

Tools for Practice articles in Canadian Family Physician are adapted from articles published on the Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP) website, summarizing medical evidence with a focus on topical issues and practice-modifying information. The ACFP summaries and the series in Canadian Family Physician are coordinated by Dr G. Michael Allan, and the summaries are co-authored by at least 1 practising family physician and are peer reviewed. Feedback is welcome and can be sent to toolsforpractice@cfpc.ca. Archived articles are available on the ACFP website: www.acfp.ca.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests

    None declared

  • The opinions expressed in Tools for Practice articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily mirror the perspective and policy of the Alberta College of Family Physicians.

References

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    2. Sari Z,
    3. Lindblad AJ
    . How to slow the flow: NSAIDs for heavy menstrual bleeding. Tools for Practice #287. Edmonton, AB: Alberta College of Family Physicians; 2021.
  2. 2.↵
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    . Naproxen reduces idiopathic but not fibromyoma-induced menorrhagia. Obstet Gynecol 1986;68(1):10-2.
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    1. Mäkäräinen L,
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    . Primary and myoma-associated menorrhagia: role of prostaglandins and effects of ibuprofen. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1986;93(9):974-8.
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    1. Bofill Rodriguez M,
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    . Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for heavy menstrual bleeding. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019;(9):CD000400.
  7. 7.↵
    1. Muggeridge J,
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    . Mefenamic acid in the treatment of menorrhagia. Res Clin Forums 1983;5:83-8.
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    1. Kumar S,
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    3. Singh B,
    4. Kumar D
    . Mefenamic acid and diclofenac in the treatment of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea in dysfunctional uterine bleeding: a randomized comparative study. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol 2018;7(10):1905-11.
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    1. Hall P,
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    . Control of menorrhagia by the cyclooxygenase inhibitors naproxen sodium and mefenamic acid. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1987;94(6):554-8.
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  10. 10.↵
    1. Singh S,
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    5. Wolfman WL
    . No. 292—abnormal uterine bleeding in premenopausal women. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2018;40(5):e391-415.
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  11. 11.↵
    1. Matteson KA,
    2. Rahn DD,
    3. Wheeler TL , 2nd,
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    6. Harvie HS, et al
    . Nonsurgical management of heavy menstrual bleeding: a systematic review. Obstet Gynecol 2013;121(3):632-43.
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  12. 12.↵
    1. Bryant-Smith AC,
    2. Lethaby A,
    3. Farquhar C,
    4. Hickey M
    . Antifibrinolytics for heavy menstrual bleeding. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018;(4):CD000249.
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NSAIDs for heavy menstrual bleeding
Jen Potter, Zainab Sari, Adrienne J. Lindblad
Canadian Family Physician Aug 2021, 67 (8) 598; DOI: 10.46747/cfp.6708598
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