Review of methods to quantify HMB
| Goals . | MLB assessment method . | Advantages . | Disadvantages . |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good for clinical trials focused specifically and strictly on volume of menstrual blood Minimal clinical utility | AH method | • “Gold standard” | • Collection of pads is laborious • Breakthrough bleeding is lost |
| Menstrual fluid weight | • Simple | • Collection of pads is laborious • Fluid evaporation can affect measurement | |
| Measurement of iron/ labeled red blood cells | • Great accuracy | • Technically challenging | |
| Good for clinic patients with focus on numbers/data Use in clinical trials for estimated volume assessment | Pictorial bleeding assessments | • Simple and easy to learn • Semiquantitative | • Validated for specific products • Participant assessment of soiling |
| Nonpictorial assessment tools | • Variability | • Poorly validated | |
| Good for clinical assessment of presence or absence of HMB and effect on QOL Often secondary outcomes for clinical trials | QOL assessment | • Insight into effect of menstrual bleeding | • Lack of volume • Individual variation |
| Self-perception | • Simple • Helpful for clinical impact | • Lack of volume of MBL assessment • Individual variation |
| Goals . | MLB assessment method . | Advantages . | Disadvantages . |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good for clinical trials focused specifically and strictly on volume of menstrual blood Minimal clinical utility | AH method | • “Gold standard” | • Collection of pads is laborious • Breakthrough bleeding is lost |
| Menstrual fluid weight | • Simple | • Collection of pads is laborious • Fluid evaporation can affect measurement | |
| Measurement of iron/ labeled red blood cells | • Great accuracy | • Technically challenging | |
| Good for clinic patients with focus on numbers/data Use in clinical trials for estimated volume assessment | Pictorial bleeding assessments | • Simple and easy to learn • Semiquantitative | • Validated for specific products • Participant assessment of soiling |
| Nonpictorial assessment tools | • Variability | • Poorly validated | |
| Good for clinical assessment of presence or absence of HMB and effect on QOL Often secondary outcomes for clinical trials | QOL assessment | • Insight into effect of menstrual bleeding | • Lack of volume • Individual variation |
| Self-perception | • Simple • Helpful for clinical impact | • Lack of volume of MBL assessment • Individual variation |