Risks and prevention of tooth extraction in menstruating patients

  Menstruation refers to the cyclical shedding and bleeding of the endometrium that accompanies the cyclical changes of the ovaries. Generally, there are no special symptoms during menstruation, but during menstruation, due to pelvic congestion and the action of prostaglandins, some women may experience discomfort in the lower abdomen and lumbosacral area or painful uterine contractions, and may have symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea. A few patients may have headache and mild neurological instability symptoms.  The traditional view is that “compensatory bleeding may occur during menstruation and tooth extraction should be postponed”, but menstrual blood does not clot because it contains prostaglandins and a large amount of fibrinolytic enzymes from the endometrium, which have a lysis effect on fibrin. Therefore, the normal menstrual period has no effect on stopping bleeding after tooth extraction.  2. 19% of women in reproductive age have excessive menstruation, and such patients may have anemia symptoms during menstruation, which may occur as a risk of tooth extraction in anemic patients.  3. Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common symptoms in gynecology, of which primary dysmenorrhea accounts for more than 90%. The pain is often spasmodic and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, weakness and other symptoms, and in severe cases, white face and cold sweat. Primary dysmenorrhea is affected by mental and neurological factors; therefore, nervousness and fear of tooth extraction can aggravate the symptoms of dysmenorrhea.  Prevention of tooth extraction risks in menstruating patients Before surgery 1. Ask the patient in detail about her menstrual history, especially the amount of menstruation, menstruation period, and accompanying symptoms (any dysmenorrhea, diarrhea, headache, etc.).  2. For patients who have more than one tooth extracted at a time, intravenous fluids can be considered to expand blood volume and prevent postoperative infection and swelling, etc.  Intraoperative 1. For patients who are overly nervous, sedation techniques such as laughing gas can be considered to relieve patients’ anxiety and nervousness.  2. Minimally invasive methods are used to extract the affected teeth.