Reducing Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Safety and Efficacy of Tranexamic Acid

Menorrhagia or Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (HMB) remains a public health challenge among women in the reproductive age group. Anti-fibrinolytics such as tranexamic acid and epsilon aminocaproic acid, play an important role in the medical management of HMB, as HMB is associated with an increase in local fibrinolysis. Lysteda is a novel oral formulation of tranexamic acid which has recently been approved by the US FDA for treatment of HMB. Efficacy of tranexamic acid in the general gynecologic population as well as in women with bleeding disorders is discussed in this review. Safety and adverse effect profile is also addressed for both these populations.