While interviewing a 31-year-old woman before her routine gynecologic examination, the nurse collects data about the client's recent menstrual cycles. The nurse should collect additional information with which statement?
a. The woman says her menstrual flow lasts 5 to 6 days.
b. She describes her flow as very heavy.
c. She reports that she has had a small amount of spotting midway between her periods for the past 2 months.
d. She says the length of her menstrual cycle varies from 26 to 29 days.
ANS: B
Menorrhagia is defined as excessive menstrual bleeding, in either duration or amount. Heavy bleeding can have many causes. The amount of bleeding and its effect on daily activities should be evaluated. A menstrual flow lasting 5 to 6 days is a normal finding. Mittlestaining, a small amount of bleeding or spotting that occurs at the time of ovulation (14 days before onset of the next menses), is considered normal. During her reproductive years, a woman may have physiologic variations in her menstrual cycle. Variations in the length of a menstrual cycle are considered normal.
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