Combined Oral Contraceptives Effective in Treating Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, New AHRQ Research Finds

Strong evidence shows that the use of combined oral contraceptives can improve menstrual regularity and reduce menstrual blood loss for women with abnormal uterine bleeding, according to a new AHRQ research review. The review focuses on evaluation of nonsurgical options to treat abnormal bleeding, with an emphasis on interventions that are accessible to and within the scope of usual practice for primary care practitioners in any clinical care setting. The review found that effective treatment options (both contraceptive and noncontraceptive) are available in the primary care setting for women who have problematic, irregular, or heavy cyclic menstrual bleeding. In addition to combined oral contraceptives, metformin, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes, also improves cycle regularity. Other treatments, such as progestogens and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also have varying levels of effectiveness in women with irregular bleeding patterns. While this review finds strong evidence for the use of combined oral contraceptives, additional studies are needed to examine both biological and patient-reported outcomes over longer periods of time. Select to access the full research review, Primary Care Management of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding.