Validating a pencil-and-paper measure of perimenopausal menstrual blood loss

In the study presented here, we describe our efforts to develop and validate a new measurement tool for perimenopausal menstrual blood loss. We validate this simple-to-use, subjective pencil-and-paper scale, the Mansfield-Voda-Jorgensen Menstrual Bleeding Scale (MVJ), against an objective measure, the weight of used menstrual products. Thirty-one women from the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN region saved all their used products over three menstrual cycles, storing them in airtight zip bags, and rated their menstrual fluid volume loss using the MVJ. The overall correlation between MVJ scores and log discharge rate was quite high (r = 0.683); all MVJ categories were statistically unique with the exception of categories “1” and “2.” The overall fit, then, was particularly good at the heavy bleeding end of the scale. When five women with poor performance were removed, the correlations ranged from 0.480–0.894. The MVJ is a promising tool for identifying women with excessive menstrual bleeding. It is a simple-to-use, pencil-and-paper scale that offers an inexpensive and practical method to clinicians who work with perimenopausal women, the group most vulnerable to unnecessary worry and/or interventions when menorrhagia is incorrectly diagnosed.