Dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory, would reduce blood loss in women with heavy menstrual bleeding.
- A dose of 0.9 mg of dexamethasone twice daily for five days showed an average reduction in menstrual blood loss volume of 19%.
- Dexamethasone could offer an alternative for women who experience unacceptable side effects with hormone therapy.
It is an anti-inflammatory that never ceases to show its benefits. Since the start of the health crisis, dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, has saved nearly a million patients hospitalized with a severe form of Covid-19. The treatment would also have other virtues, in particular that of being able to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding in women who have heavy periods. This is the conclusion of a study published on 1er July in the magazine EBio MEDICINE.
One in four women
This is the first study to examine the therapeutic potential of an anti-inflammatory steroid for heavy periods, which affects approximately one in four women. Currently, the most common treatment used to reduce menstrual bleeding is a hormone release device that is inserted into the uterine cavity. Despite its effectiveness, about one in five women say they are unhappy with the side effects, including unpredictable bleeding. Also, it is not suitable for women who are trying to get pregnant.
For this research, Scottish scientists from the University of Edinburgh tested the anti-inflammatory on 107 women aged 21 to 54 who had had heavy menstrual bleeding for periods ranging from six months to 37 years. The results revealed that women who received a 0.9mg dose of dexamethasone twice daily for five days showed an average reduction in menstrual blood loss volume of 19%.
A taboo topic
For the researchers, these results show that dexamethasone is a credible treatment option. It could offer an alternative for women who experience unacceptable side effects with hormone treatment but do not want surgical treatment or those who wish to try pregnancy. “Menstruation and heavy menstrual bleeding are still taboo subjects and their impact is underestimated by patientssays Hilary Critchley, lead author of the study. Our results pave the way for further study of dexamethasone as a safe and effective therapy.”
“This trial is the result of groundbreaking laboratory research and years of multidisciplinary collaboration between clinicians and methodologists, combined with specialized expertise in new effective and ethical approaches to trial design. It has been an exciting and rewarding journey,” says Dr. Pamela Warner, Reader in Medical Statistics at the University’s Usher Institute.
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