Case records and commentaries for the examination of mastership of medicine in obstetrics and gynaecology

Abstract

Seventy four healthy subjects aged between 19 years and 27 years had their menstrual blood volume evaluated for at least two consecutive menses between May and December 1982. The method used was of Hallberg and Nelson of converting haemoglobin into alkaline haematin, as modified by Newton to use a stomacher blender. The subjects were all nuliparous and used no contraception. They complained of no menstrual problems and they all had regular periods. The mean menstrual blood loss for the group was 32 + 13 ml. with a range of 7 ml. to 64 ml. per menses. There was no statistically significant difference in the volumes between the consecutive periods of each subject. There was however great variation in the menstrual blood volumes of different subjects.