Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

A clinico-pathological study of postcoital bleeding

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Methods.

To undertake a clinical study of postcoital bleeding (PCB) in a district general hospital we retrospectively reviewed the records of 248 patients referred to the gynaecology department over a 5-year period.

Results.

63% were in the 21–40-year age group and 80% were multiparous. Seventy per cent were referred to the gynaecology out patients' clinic and 28% to the colposcopy clinic. Associated symptoms included menstrual abnormalities (39%) and dyspareunia (13%). Twenty per cent had benign polyps, including endometrial polyps and 25% had cervical ectropion. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was detected in 6.8% of cases. There was no case of invasive cancer of the lower genital tract.

Conclusions.

This is the first report of associated endometrial polyps contributing to PCB. We conclude that CIN may not always be asymptomatic and the incidence of cervical or endometrial cancer is low in women with PCB.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fraser IS, Petrucco OM (1996) Management of intermenstrual and postcoital bleeding, and an appreciation of the issues arising out of the recent case of O'Shea versus Sullivan and Macquarie pathology. Aust NZ J Obstet Gynaecol 36:67–73

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Goldacre MJ, Loudon N, Watt B, Grant G, Loudon JDO, McPherson K, Vessy MP (1978) Epidemiology and clinical significance of cervical erosion in women attending a family planning clinic. BMJ 1:748–750

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Pardanani NS, Tischler LP, Brown WH, de Feo E (1975) Carcinoma of the cervix. N Y State J Med 75:1018–1021

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Pretorius R, Semrad N, Watring W, Fotheringham N (1991) Presentation of cervical cancer. Gynecol Oncol 42:48–53

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Rosenthal AN, Panoskaltis T, Smith T, Soutter WP (2001) The frequency of significant pathology in women attending a general gynaecological service for postcoital bleeding. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 108:103–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Shalini R, Amita S, Neera MA (1998) How alarming is postcoital bleeding—a cytologic, colposcopic and histopathologic evaluation. Gynecol Obstet Invest 45:205–208

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Slater DN (1995) Multifactorial audit of invasive cancer: key lessons for national screening programme. J Clin Path 48:405–407

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Vikki M, Pukkala E, Hakama M (1998) Bleeding symptoms and subsequent risk of gynaecological and other cancers. Acta Gynecol Scand 77:564–569

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel O. Selo-Ojeme.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Selo-Ojeme, D.O., Dayoub, N., Patel, A. et al. A clinico-pathological study of postcoital bleeding. Arch Gynecol Obstet 270, 34–36 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-002-0457-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-002-0457-6

Keywords

Navigation