Sonographic evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding among non-pregnant women in Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is the direct cause of a significant healthcare burden for women and society at large. Around 30% of women will experience AUB during their reproductive years, prompting them to seek medical attention. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding can significantly impact their quality of life, often causing frequent work absences and potentially requiring surgical treatment. It's crucial to accurately diagnose the underlying cause of AUB in this age group to ensure proper and effective management. This study aims to evaluate AUB among non-pregnant women in Lagos using transvaginal ultrasound. A descriptive cross-sectional study of 152 non-pregnant women of reproductive age (16 to 55 years) with abnormal uterine bleeding for a period of five months. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit the subjects. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Sonographic evaluation reveals positive findings in 97 cases (63.8%) out of 152 cases studied. Seventy cases (46%) had structural abnormalities with the highest being Leiomyoma (41.4%), followed by Adenomyosis (3.9%), and Endometrial Polyp (0.6%). The age group 26 – 35 years presented most with abnormal uterine bleeding cases (48.6%). The major clinical history was absent menstrual bleeding with findings depicting normal endometrium. There was a positive and moderate correlation between age and parity of subjects with AUB.
The study found that Transvaginal ultrasound effectively identifies AUB's structural causes. It is recommended as the initial assessment method due to its safety, affordability, and widespread availability in healthcare settings.