OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of heavy menstrual bleeding among Australian women from young adulthood to midlife (22-48 years) and investigate the characteristics of women who experience this condition
to investigate the relationship of heavy menstrual bleeding and health-related quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort survey study (Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, ALSWH). SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Australia
baseline cohort of 14 247 women born during 1973-1978, recruited in 1996
eight post-baseline surveys undertaken at 3-year intervals, 2000-2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported frequency of heavy menstrual bleeding during the preceding twelve months (never/rarely, sometimes, often)
frequency of heavy menstrual bleeding by socio-demographic, behavioural, health, and reproduction-related characteristics
mean physical and mental health-related quality of life scores (36-item Short Form health survey, SF-36) by frequency of heavy menstrual bleeding. Results are weighted to adjust for oversampling of participants from rural and remote areas. RESULTS: Data for 11 311 respondents to at least one ALSWH post-baseline survey were included in our prevalence analysis. The prevalence of sometimes or often experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding increased from 17.6% at age 22 years (124 of 691 respondents) to 32.1% at 48 years (359 of 1132 respondents)
the proportion who reported often experiencing the condition increased from 6.1% (45 participants) to 12.1% (136 participants). The likelihood of often experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding increased with body mass index (40 kg/m CONCLUSIONS: Heavy menstrual bleeding was reported by large minorities of women of reproductive age, and the proportion increased with age. Many women experience symptoms that have a substantial impact on their physical and mental health-related quality of life.