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Abstract
Investigation of reliability and practicality of a method for measuring menstrual
blood loss was required for research into the problem of uterine hemorrhage caused
by intrauterine contraceptive devices. The method selected for evaluation was the
photometric alkaline hematin procedure. Our studies of this technic indicate a sensitivity
to less than 0.1 ml of blood, within-batch precision of 5% or less (2 C.V.), and an
accuracy of measuring human menstrual blood from most types of sanitary devices generally
within ± 5%. The method appears to be specific for menstrual blood and independent
of other materials in genital fluids. Menstrual discharge may be stored for at lease
one month prior to determination without alteration of results. The procedure, once
optimized for our purposes, was found to be very practical.
Using this technic, blood loss was measured during 15 menstrual periods in 6 subjects.
The results were consistent with the available literature which indicates that maximum
normal menstrual blood flow is between 60 and 80 ml, and the mean is near 30 ml. Variation
of measured flow between consecutive menstrual cycles in some individuals (both normal
and menorrhagic) reveals the necessity for repeated measurements to properly assess
average blood flow in certain cases.
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
May 15,
1972
Footnotes
☆This investigation was supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation.
Identification
Copyright
© 1972 Published by Elsevier Inc.
