What is excessive bleeding during the menstrual cycle called?

Appeared in: P.CHO-2019

Explanation

Menorrhagia is the specific medical term for excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding that occurs at regular intervals.
It is defined by a blood loss exceeding 80 mL per cycle or a duration of more than 7 days.
This condition is distinct from other menstrual irregularities which relate to the timing and frequency of periods, not just the volume of blood loss.

Option B: Metrorrhagia refers to bleeding that occurs at irregular intervals, specifically between menstrual periods. The question describes excessive bleeding during the cycle.
Option C: Oligomenorrhoea describes menstrual cycles that are infrequent, meaning the cycle length is longer than 35 days. It relates to the frequency, not the amount of bleeding.
Option D: Polymenorrhoea describes menstrual cycles that are too frequent, with a cycle length of less than 21 days. This also relates to frequency, not the volume of bleeding.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Terminology of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in assessing a patient's menstrual history to identify AUB. Key assessment questions include the number of pads/tampons used, the presence and size of clots, and symptoms of anemia (fatigue, dizziness).
Patient education is vital. Nurses should advise women with menorrhagia to maintain a menstrual diary, increase intake of iron-rich foods to prevent anemia, and seek medical advice if bleeding is severe (e.g., soaking a pad per hour).
What if? If a patient presents with heavy bleeding and also reports irregular bleeding between periods, the condition is termed menometrorrhagia, which combines features of both menorrhagia and metrorrhagia.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'excessive bleeding' and 'during the menstrual cycle'. This points to an issue with the volume of blood, not the timing.
Next, recall or look up the definitions of the terms provided in the options.
Menorrhagia specifically refers to heavy or prolonged bleeding during a regular cycle.
Metrorrhagia refers to bleeding between cycles.
Oligomenorrhoea and Polymenorrhoea refer to the frequency of cycles (infrequent and frequent, respectively).
Match the definition that fits the question's description. 'Excessive bleeding during the cycle' directly corresponds to the definition of Menorrhagia.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QXviSeg_NTUJF01FkUoiGM

E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 65-80

Practise the full P.CHO-2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.