Short and long-term menstrual, reproductive, and mental health outcomes after the intrauterine use of chitosan tamponade or the Bakri balloon for severe postpartum hemorrhage: an observational study.

Objective: This retrospective follow-up study analyzes the effect of intrauterine postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) therapy on menstrual, reproductive, and mental health outcomes.

Methods: All women who delivered at a university hospital between 2016 and 2021 with PPH and who needed intrauterine therapy were included. A questionnaire on well-being, menses, fertility, and reproductive outcomes was mailed to the patients. Those who did not reply were surveyed by telephone.

Results: A total of 214 women treated with chitosan-covered gauze (group A) and 46 women treated with a balloon tamponade (group B) were recruited, and their short-term courses were analyzed. For long-term follow-up, 71 women of group A (33%) and 21 women of group B (46%) could be reached. A total of 89% of group A and 95% of group B had regular menstrual bleeding in the most recent 12 months; 27% (group A) and 29% (group B) were trying to conceive again, and all of them did so successfully. There were 12 deliveries, 3 ongoing pregnancies, 3 miscarriages, and 2 terminations of pregnancies (TOP) in group A and 4 deliveries, 1 miscarriage, and 2 TOPs in group B. More than half of our study participants was sorted into grade II or III of the Impact of Events Scale, indicating they experienced clinical impacts in the form of psychological sequelae. One-quarter of patients had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Conclusion: Chitosan gauze as well as balloon tamponade appear to have few adverse effects on subsequent menstrual and reproductive function. Women after PPH are at increased risk of long-term adverse psychological outcomes.