NICE publishes updated quality standard on heavy menstrual bleeding

This quality standard covers assessing and managing heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), including suspected or confirmed fibroids and adenomyosis. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement, as well as treatment options. It advises commissioners to commission the full range of treatment options available.

This quality standard will update and replace the existing quality standard on heavy menstrual bleeding, published in September 2013. It is aimed at commissioners, service providers, health, public health and social care professionals, and the public.

The updated quality standard states that a full range of treatment options for heavy menstrual bleeding should be discussed with patients:

Discussing the full range of treatment options for heavy menstrual bleeding, including the benefits and risks of each option, enables the person to make an informed decision.

Healthcare professionals are advised to “carry out a documented discussion about the full range of available treatment options for heavy menstrual bleeding with the person”.

The new quality standard also advises commissioners to “ensure that they commission services to provide people with the full range of treatment options available for heavy menstrual bleeding.”

In the FSRH submission to the consultation for this quality standard, we had proposed that NICE recommended consistent commissioning of IUS devices to treat Heavy Menstrual Bleeding in community and primary services.

To read the updated quality standard on heavy menstrual bleeding, click here.