2007/004 NICE guidance highlights new treatment options available to women living with heavy menstrual bleeding

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has today issued guidance on the diagnosis, treatment and management of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) - currently the leading cause of diminished quality of life amongst women of childbearing age. One in four women in England suffer from menstrual problems over their lifetime, and it is estimated that 6.5% of all women aged 12-51 have heavy menstrual bleeding.5 Despite this high figure, only 50% of these women are coming forward to seek help from their GP.5 The guidelines make recommendations on a range of effective treatments that should be discussed with women prior to considering irreversible and radical surgical operations such as hysterectomy.