Role of Injection Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate in the Management of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55489/ijmr.1304202576Keywords:
Heavy menstrual bleeding, DMPA, Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, PBAC score, Anemia, Menstrual Health Index, Non-surgical treatmentAbstract
Introduction: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a common gynecological problem which affect 17.9% of Indian women and often leads to anemia, poor quality of life, and psychosocial issues. Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA), a long-acting injectable progestin, which is an effective, affordable option for HMB management in low-resource settings.
Method: This prospective interventional study done among 70 women aged 18-45 years with HMB who given a single 150 mg intramuscular dose of DMPA. Participants were followed over three months. Menstrual blood loss was assessed using the Pictorial Blood Assessment Chart (PBAC), menstrual health using the Menstrual Health Index (MHI), and hematologic status via hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests; p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: PBAC scores significantly decreased from 136.9 ± 14.1 to 98.0 ± 15.2 (p < 0.001), while amenorrhea was achieved in 12.9% of women. Hemoglobin increases from 9.8 ± 0.9 g/dL to 11.4 ± 1.1 g/dL (p < 0.001), with moderate anemia dropping from 88.6% to 34.3%. MHI scores also improved significantly. The study is limited by its short three-month follow-up period and the absence of a control group, which may affect the generalizability and comparative interpretation of the findings.
Conclusion: DMPA effectively reduces menstrual blood loss, it also improves hematologic indices and menstrual health, and gives a practical, non-surgical solution for managing HMB.
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