Pharmacotherapy – Anticoagulation therapy in the context of women’s health

Link to EAHP Statements

Section 4 – Clinical Pharmacy: Statements – 4.1, 4.6

Abstract 

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, commonly afflicts women of reproductive age. Anticoagulant therapy administered after a VTE diagnosis is frequently associated with excessive menstrual bleeding.

This is not only the case with traditional oral anticoagulation treatments such as warfarin, in fact, the introduction of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for the treatment or prevention of VTE has also contributed to the concerns related to heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in women on anticoagulants.

Managing anticoagulation therapy is crucial for women with acute conditions like VTE, where maintaining therapeutic anticoagulation levels is vital. However, the onset of HMB can cause disruption to anticoagulation treatment which could lead to patients missing essential anticoagulation therapy for several days and ultimately causing disease recurrence.

This seminar will provide valuable insights into the management of anticoagulation in premenopausal women undergoing VTE treatment, with a focus on minimizing the impact of HMB in these patients.

Learning objectives 

After this session, participants should be able to:

• Describe the association between anticoagulation therapy and HMB in premenopausal women undergoing treatment for VTE
• Outline the essential role of the hospital pharmacist (HP) in the management of anticoagulation of women of reproductive age undergoing VTE treatment
• Discuss the importance of effective communication and shared decision-making between the HPs, physicians and the women experiencing HMB while on anticoagulation treatment for VTE

Educational need addressed:

This seminar addresses the involvement of HPs in the management of anticoagulants in women of reproductive age undergoing VTE treatment. 

Keywords

Anticoagulants, shared decision-making, direct oral anticoagulants