ANTICOAGULANT DYSREGULATION IN HEAVY MENSTRUAL BLEEDING: EVIDENCE FROM ALTERED PROTEIN S AND ACTIVATED PARTIAL THROMBOPLASTIN TIME IN FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES

Background and Objective: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a common gynecological condition associated with alterations in haemostatic parameters. This study aimed to evaluate haemostatic changes in female undergraduates with heavy menstrual flow by assessing Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) and Protein S levels to better understand the underlying mechanisms of abnormal uterine bleeding. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 apparently healthy female undergraduate students aged 18-26 years were recruited, comprising 40 participants with heavy menstrual bleeding and 40 with normal menstrual flow (control). Venous blood samples were collected and analyzed for APTT using the manual coagulometric (tilt-tube) method, while Protein S levels were determined using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.