Menorrhagia, active component service women, U.S. Armed Forces, 1998-2012

Menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding) is relatively common among women of reproductive age and may be caused by a wide range of different conditions. Menorrhagia symptoms can interfere with work and quality of life and may result in iron deficiency anemia due to chronic blood loss. This analysis of active component service women of the U.S. Armed Forces found that, during the surveillance period of 1998 through 2012, the crude incidence rate of menorrhagia was 6.2 cases per 1,000 person years. Annual incidence rates rose steadily throughout the period. Compared to their respective counterparts, rates were highest in women who were aged 40 to 49 or were of black, non-Hispanic ethnicity. Among women with menorrhagia whose records documented co-ocurring conditions, the most common such conditions were uterine disorders (e.g., fibroids) and ovarian cysts. Less than one percent of cases had underlying bleeding disorders documented. Of women hospitalized with the diagnosis of menorrhagia, 79 percent underwent hysterectomy during their hospitalizations. Limitations of the analysis and possible future studies are discussed.