The use of a short course of Ulipristal Acetate for acute abnormal uterine bleeding in women without uterine fibroids

BACKGROUND: Ulipristal Acetate (UPA) is a synthetic selective progesterone receptor modulator. It is used as emergency contraception and to reduce pain and blood loss in women of reproductive age with uterine fibroids. The first mechanism of action is myometrial apoptosis, the second is on the hypo-thalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and the third action, is an anti-proliferative effect on the endometrium. Mainly based on the latter two, UPA is increasingly used off-label in women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) without fibroids. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to find evidence for a short course of UPA to treat acute AUB without fibroids, performing a systematic review as well as scrutinising literature data on the pharmacokinetics and on short term bleeding control in women with fibroids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic electronic literature review was performed in February 2022. Inclusion criteria were UPA administered to women without myomas in a setting of acute uterine bleeding. Further criteria included papers describing early bleeding control using UPA, deemed independent of the presence of fibroids, with specific attention to the median time to amenorrhoea. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measured was the bleeding control within 10 days. RESULTS: One case report was identified. The data on symptomatic women with fibroids using 5 mg or 10 mg daily revealed bleeding control was reported within 10 days in 81% and 89% respectively, with amenorrhoea in 57% and in 78% respectively. CONCLUSION: A short-term administration may prove effective in abnormal uterine bleeding irrespective of the presence of uterine fibroids. However, more randomised controlled trials are needed and should be performed before implementation in general clinical practice. WHAT IS NEW? A short course of Ulipristal acetate as promising treatment for acute uterine bleeding without fibroids.