Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Heavy menstrual bleeding among women aged 18 -50 years living in Beijing, China: 
prevalence, risk factors, and impact on daily life  
 
Version: 0 Date: 16 May 2018  
 
Reviewer: Ilza Maria Urbano Monteiro  
 
Reviewer's report:  
The study is important because HMB needs more knowledge.  
 
Abstract : I recommend the review of the conclusions about alcohol consumption.  
 
Introduction: OK  
 
Methods : Alcohol consumption could be better defined, because the conclusions about the 
association between HMB and alcohol were strong. What is occasionally alcohol consumption?  
Define iron deficiency  
 
Results : OK  
 
Discussion : Page 268 : The authors concluded that HMB arises with aging, but there are some 
papers that concluded the prevalence of HMB in adolescents is higher than adults, because the 
ovulatory disturbances more common in young women. Besides that, data of this study is 
referred to the women and menstrual perception of the adolescents and young women could be 
different of the women above 35 years old.  
 
Obesity is commonly associated with HMB, but in this study there was no association between 
HMB and BMI   28. I think it is important to discuss this different result. Is the low number of 
women in this group (4.2%) the reason?  
 
In this sample, the prevalence of iron deficiency is low (6.4%). I think that it is important to 
compare with the iron deficiency prevalence in Chinese women. In the conclusion, the 
discussion about women that is untreated a ccording iron deficiency could be an important issue 
to do.    
 
Table 1  
 
Title : Prevalence and odds ratio  
 
Conclusion : Alcohol consumption. The conclusion about alcohol consumption is too strong. The 
purpose of behavior changing considering one dose of a lcohol per week could be exaggerated. 
Perhaps an alert to highlight the relationship.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in yo ur comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statis tical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in  an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received  reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds 
or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I have no competing interests  
 
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