Postmenopausal bleeding in Libya : a study of predisposing factors and associated pathology

Abstract EN

Objectives: This project was designed to study postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) in Libya in terms of etiology, risk factors, incidence of malignancy, and associated pathology.

Patients & Materials: One hundred cases of PMB admitted to Al Jamahiriya Maternity Teaching Hospital in Benghazi, Libya from October I, 1997 to June 30, 1998 underwent a detailed history and clinical examination including full laboratory investigation, pelvic ultrasound, and examination under anesthesia (EUA) with dilatation and curettage and tissue sampling.

Results: The age range was from 39 to 80 years with a mean of54.29.

Benign pathology was found in 89/95 cases.

(Five specimens could not be included in the study).

These included senile atrophic endometrium, normal functioning endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia, endometritis, endometrial polyps, cervicitis, and cervical polyps.

Malignant patholbgy was found in 6/95 cases including 3 cases of cancer of the cervix and 3 cases of adenocarcinoma of the endometrium.

Conclusions: Postmenopausal bleeding is an important symptom and requires careful and prompt evaluation to eliminate the possibility of malignancy as quickly as possible.