About the HELP Group

The HELP (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Evidence-based Learning for best Practice) Group is a panel of independent physicians from around the world with expert interest in the area of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).

The HELP Group have created this website to be the primary source of credible information on HMB. The Editorial Board work together to review the content of the site and ensure it is always scientifically accurate, reliable and current.

The HELP HMB educational platform is endorsed by the Society of Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders (SEUD). The objective of SEUD is to provide an international scientific platform supporting better management of benign gynecologic diseases and related uterine dysfunctions. By sharing knowledge and raising awareness on a group of diseases that affect women’s health, SEUD aims to improve disease management and reduce the impact on women’s lives. The HELP HMB educational platform is aligned with those objectives by providing holistic, scientific and comprehensive information for healthcare professionals, patients and interested public on HMB, a very common condition associated with multiple gynecologic diseases.

Professor Joaquim Calaf, Spain, Barcelona

Professor Joaquim Calaf

Professor Joaquim Calaf is Professor and Chairman at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

“Heavy menstrual bleeding frequently remains undetected and consequently untreated. The lack of awareness regarding frequency and of tools to detect it is the main causes. An instrument providing information and skills to both patients and HCPs will be very valuable to improve woman's health and quality of life.”
Professor William Catherino, Bethesda, MD, USA

Professor William Catherino

Professor William Catherino is Professor and Chair of the Research Division at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.

“A better understanding of heavy menstrual bleeding empowers women to individualize and optimize their therapy”
Dr Jean-Philippe Estrade, Marseille, France

Dr Jean-Philippe Estrade

Dr Jean-Philippe Estrade is a Gynecological Surgeon at Clinique Bouchard-Elsan, Marseille, France.

“In France from an epidemiological point of view, 44% of women experience discomfort during their periods, only 24% of women dare to discuss their periods with their partner and 19% have never discussed the subject with anyone.

Moreover, 43% of women are still embarrassed when buying feminine hygiene products. Among young girls, menstruation is experienced as a handicap, with the impossibility of leading a normal daily life (48%) at school and difficulty in participating in sporting activities (45%).

A website dedicated to the education of the normal and pathological menstrual period is absolutely necessary for a better understanding of HMB by women and physicians. This pragmatic knowledge will contribute to a better acceptability of the treatments developed in a context of a shared therapeutic project”
Dr Kaori Koga, Tokyo, Japan

Dr Kaori Koga

Dr Kaori Koga is Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

“Many women who do not seek treatment for HMB and they are unaware that HMB is decreasing their quality of life. We need an educational website so that we can provide the right knowledge to such women, as well as the HCPs who treat them, to enable them to live better lives as they receive appropriate treatment.”
Professor Agnaldo Lopes Da Silva Filho, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Professor Agnaldo Lopes Da Silva Filho

Professor Agnaldo Lopes is Head and Full Professor of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

“Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) can be a serious and debilitating condition affecting 1 in 3 women worldwide. Women’s perceptions of what is “normal” with regards to menstruation depend largely upon their understanding of menstruation. When a woman presents with heavy periods, she should not accommodate them or accept them as a matter of course. The HMB website aims to build a more comprehensive picture of women’s attitudes and beliefs around HMB.”
Dr Sony S Singh , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Dr Sony S Singh

Dr Sony S Singh is Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecology at The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.

“Heavy menstrual bleeding is a condition that affects millions worldwide, however, most suffer in silence. Education and advocacy will help empower girls and women to speak up and ask for help when needed. This website has the ability to reach all those affected by breaking the silence.”
Professor Xin Yang, Beijing, China

Professor Xin Yang

Professor Xin Yang is Professor of Gynecology at the Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China.

“Many women in China believe that heavy menstrual bleeding represents reproductive function, and that menstruation has a detoxification effect, meaning patients often do not go to see a doctor for HMB until they have anemia. A HMB educational website is a needed and very important for HCPs and women.”
Dr Silvia Vannuccini, Florence, Italy

Dr Silvia Vannuccini

Dr Silvia Vannuccini is a Clinical Research Fellow at the Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy, working closely with SEUD.

“Heavy menstrual bleeding is a condition affecting approximately 30% of women of reproductive age. As it is defined as excessive menstrual blood loss leading to interference with physical, emotional, social quality of life, awareness of the condition is crucial.

In fact, almost half of affected women do not consult a physician for HMB symptoms, as the condition is considered normal in most cases. An education website is vital in order to improve understanding and awareness of HMB.

Case detection can be maximized if women are aware of the presentation of HMB, and there is also high awareness among healthcare workers at the primary healthcare level. Raising awareness through the HMB website represents an integral part of health promotion strategies for women’s health, in particular for those suffering from this disabling condition.”

About SEUD

The Society of Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders (SEUD) was created in 2015 with the aim of improving uterine disease management and reducing the impact on women’s lives through focused debate on disease awareness, pathogenesis, risk factors, diagnosis and medical/surgical treatments.

SEUD’s objective is to draw attention to a group of diseases that negatively affect womens’ health and fertility, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, polyps, heavy menstrual bleeding and uterine malformations.

SEUD also promotes education and training for the next generation of young experts with new perspectives more than 1000 members worldwide with a strong social community. based on translational research experience.

Past President Professor Charles Chapron and current President Professor Felice Petraglia, lead the society which represents more than 1000 members worldwide with a strong social community.