Assessment of menstrual blood loss using a pictorial chart: a validation study

Abstract

Objective: To assess the accuracy of a pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBAC) as a method for estimating menstrual blood loss in women complaining of heavy periods.

Design: A prospective analysis of 103 consecutive women complaining of excessive menstrual blood loss.

Population: Women recruited into an on-going study of menstrual blood loss in a large district general hospital.

Main outcome measures: Correlation between pictorial assessment of blood loss and actual measured menstrual blood loss.

Results: There was poor correlation between observed PBAC score and menstrual blood loss.

Conclusion: We have not been able to validate previously published work. The pictorial assessment chart offers no significant improvement in the quality of objective diagnosis in women complaining of menorrhagia.