Vaginal bleeding is a common emergency department complaint. Severe vaginal bleeding after pregnancy is excluded, it is less common but can be a sign of occult disease.

The initial management requires stabilization of the patient with blood products, if needed, before further workup is arranged. High dose IV conjugated equine estrogen 25 mg IV q4h x 24 hours is also a first-line option for life-threatening uterine bleeding (7).

Contraindications to estrogen – history of PE or DVT, breast cancer, or liver disease (caution use in patients with CVD due to limited data).

1. History and physical exam

a. Pre-menarche

• • The use of a speculum or attempts to visualize the cervix in the emergency department is often unnecessary.

b. Menarche

• • Genital and pelvic exams should focus on identifying the source and amount of bleed with the use of a speculum to assess the cervix and vaginal mucosa.
  • Bimanual exams should be performed to assess for cervical consistency, uterine position and size, pelvic masses, and cervical motion tenderness.

c. Post-menarche

• • Genital and pelvic exams should focus on identifying the source and amount of bleed with the use of a speculum to assess the cervix and vaginal mucosa (a Pederson or pediatric speculum may be required if the perineum and external genital is atrophic).
  • Bimanual exams should be performed to assess for cervical consistency, uterine position and size, pelvic masses, and cervical motion tenderness.

2. CBC, coagulation studies, beta HCG to exclude pregnancy.
3. Vaginal cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
4. Pelvic – often does not need to be completed in the emergency department unless there is a need to evaluate pelvic pain or rule out a tubo-ovarian abscess.

Note: often the underlying cause is not identified in the emergency department. Emergency physicians are responsible for stabilizing the patient and should have an idea of how urgent follow-up is required so that definitive diagnosis and management occurs.

Pre-menarche (2)

Created by Ella Barrett-Chan, UBC MSI3, 2023

Created by Ella Barrett-Chan, UBC MSI3, 2023

Menarche (3)

Created by Ella Barrett-Chan, UBC MSI3, 2023

Some patients will have underlying coagulopathy or inherited coagulation disorder (heavy bleeding often occurs soon after menarche). Testing for underlying coagulopathy should be considered only in women with a history of heavy menstrual bleeding since menarche or who have a personal or family history of abnormal bleeding.

Diagnosed on ultrasound (endometrial sampling for endometrial carcinoma).

Endocervical samples should be obtained for microscopy and culture to guide treatment (completed by gynecology or some family physicians).

Post-menarche (4)

Created by Ella Barrett-Chan, UBC MSI3, 2023

1. Heavy vaginal bleeding with signs of intravascular volume depletion.
2. Recent abortion may warrant consultation with a gynecologist due to the risk of retained products.
3. Refer to a gynecologist if structural lesion or malignancy is suspected.
4. Refer to a gynecologist if medical therapy is inadequate to control bleeding.
5. If sexual abuse is suspected, do not discharge a young patient back to the potentially harmful environment.

1. Daniels RV, McCuskey C. Abnormal vaginal bleeding in the nonpregnant patient. Emerg Med Clin N Am. 2003; 21(3): 751-772.

   
   

2. Howell JO, Flowers D. Prepubertal vaginal bleeding: etiology, diagnostic approach, and management. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2016; 71(4): 231-242.

   
   

3. Bryan S. Abnormal vaginal bleeding. Emerg Med. 2003; 15(3): 215-218.

   
   

4. Birnbaum S. Approach to the woman with abnormal vaginal bleeding. In: Primary care medicine: office evaluation and management of the adult patient. 2014. p. 845-851.

   
   

5. Zuckerman A, Romano M. Clinical Recommendation: Vulvovaginitis. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. 2016;29(6):673-679. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2016.08.002

   
   

6. Bofill Rodriguez M, Lethaby A, Farquhar C. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for heavy menstrual bleeding. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2019;9. Art. No.: CD000400. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000400.pub4.

   
   

7. Dyne PL, Miller TA. The patient with non-pregnancy-associated vaginal bleeding. Emerg Med Clin N Am. 2019; 27(2): 153-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emc.2019.01.002