Endometrial Ablation
Endometrial ablation is a minimally invasive technique that treats excessively heavy menstral bleeding. There are a variety of techniques used for endometrial ablation. With an endometrial ablation, the inner lining of the uterus (the endometrium), where the period comes from, is removed or destroyed. The surgeons at Contemporary Women’s Care utilize several endometrial ablation techniques, depending on each individual woman and her specific condition. The ablation techniques utilized are the Thermachoice Balloon endometrial ablation which uses hot water circulating through a balloon to destroy the lining of the uterus and HTA Hydrothermablator, which uses hot circulating water to destroy the lining of the uterus.
Why is an endometrial ablation performed? Endometrial ablation is an alternative to hysterectomy for the treatment of menorrhagia in women who wish to keep their uterus or avoid major surgery. Instead of removing the whole uterus, only the inner lining is gone.
Who is a good candidate for endometrial ablation?
- Women who are pre-menopausal
- Heavy bleeding caused by a benign (non-cancerous) condition
- Women who have finished having children and are not interested in future fertility.
- Women who wish to retain their uterus.
What does an endometrial ablation involve? An endometrial ablation is an outpatient procedure with a short recovery. It can either be performed in the office, or as an outpatient procedure in the operating room. A woman may experience some cramping after the procedure; ibuprofen is usually adequate to treat pain. It is common to have a vaginal discharge for approximately 2-4 weeks after the procedure. Most women are typically back to their normal activities in 1-2 days.
How successful is an endometrial ablation
in treating heavy bleeding?
Success rates vary depending on the technique used. When combining all the different techniques:
- About 40% of women will have no periods (amenorrhea) after an endometrial ablation.
- About 85-90% of women have either no periods or decreased bleeding. They are satisfied with the outcome of the ablation and do not need further treatment.
- About 10-15% of women will require additional treatment, such as a hysterectomy.
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in the Contemporary Women’s Care website should be relied upon for medical education purposes only. It is not intended to replace the independent judgment of a health care provider. The appropriateness of a course of treatment for a patient may vary from the medical information provided herein due to individual conditions and/or complications.
