From the Guidelines
Yes, Tranexamic Acid (TXA) can be used to treat uterine bleeding.
Key Points
- TXA is recommended by the WHO as part of the standard treatment package for post-partum haemorrhage, in addition to fluid replacement, uterotonics, and other interventions 1.
- The recommended dose of TXA is 1 g intravenously, with a second dose of 1 g if bleeding continues after 30 minutes or restarts within 24 hours 1.
- TXA has been shown to reduce maternal death due to hemorrhage in cases of postpartum hemorrhage, with no increase in adverse events related to its use in pregnant or postpartum women 1.
- The use of TXA is supported by evidence from the WOMAN trial, which dominates the findings of a Cochrane review on the effect of antifibrinolytic drugs for treatment of post-partum haemorrhage 1.
Important Considerations
- TXA should be given within 3 hours of birth, and its use should be considered in all cases of post-partum haemorrhage, regardless of the cause of bleeding 1.
- The use of TXA is not recommended in women with a clear contraindication to antifibrinolytic therapy, such as a known thromboembolic event during pregnancy 1.
- Health facilities providing emergency obstetric care should have the necessary supplies and training to administer TXA safely by intravenous infusion 1.
The FDA Drug Labels for tranexamic acid (PV) do not address this question.
From the Research
Uterine Bleeding Treatment with Tranexamic Acid
- Tranexamic acid (TXA) is safe and effective for the treatment of heavy vaginal bleeding during menstruation and childbirth, as well as postpartum hemorrhage 2, 3, 4.
- TXA reduces menstrual blood loss by 26%-60% and improves the quality of life of women treated for heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) 3.
- The recommended oral dosage of TXA is 3.9-4 g/day for 4-5 days starting from the first day of the menstrual cycle 3.
- TXA may also have a role in the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage, but more evidence is needed on the balance of risks and benefits 4.
- Early administration of TXA is important for efficacy, particularly in trauma and postpartum hemorrhage 5.
Efficacy and Safety of Tranexamic Acid
- Available evidence indicates that TXA therapy in women with idiopathic menorrhagia resulted in 34-54% reduction in menstrual blood loss 6.
- TXA treatment significantly improves patient quality-of-life parameters, with improvements of 46-83% compared to 15-45% for norethisterone treatment 6.
- No thromboembolic event was reported in all studies analyzed, suggesting that TXA is safe for use in patients with heavy menstrual bleeding 6.
- However, there is evidence of increased risk of venous thrombosis in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, and increased risk of seizures with the use of higher doses of TXA 5.
Clinical Context and Administration
- The efficacy and safety of TXA for the treatment of bleeding differ according to the clinical context in which it is being administered, timing of administration, and dose 5.
- Clinical trials have shown that TXA is effective in reducing bleeding in various clinical contexts, including postpartum hemorrhage, trauma, and heavy menstrual bleeding 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms by which TXA provides benefit, optimal modes of administration and dosing, and its effect in some clinical settings, such as spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage 5.