Endometrial ablation should be used to treat premenopausal women with normal endometrial cavities who have menorrhagia or patient-perceived heavy menstrual bleeding. These should be women who have no desire for future fertility, and they most likely will have been unsuccessful with or are intolerant of medical therapy.
Who should not have endometrial ablation?
Endometrial ablation should not be done in women past menopause. It is not recommended for women with certain medical conditions, including the following: Disorders of the uterus or endometrium. Endometrial hyperplasia.
Does endometrial ablation require hospitalization?
Endometrial ablation usually is done on an outpatient basis. You may need to stay there for 1-2 hours following the procedure. Some methods may require an overnight hospital stay.
How many years does an uterine ablation last?
The expected effect of endometrial ablation usually shows up in a few months and usually lasts for a longer time in most women. About 3 in 10 women will see a significant reduction in their menstrual bleeding. Nearly 50% of women who undergo this treatment will have their menstrual periods stopped permanently.
Why would a woman need an ablation?
Menstrual bleeding problems may be caused by hormone problems. This is especially true for women nearing menopause or after menopause. Other causes include abnormal tissues such as fibroids, polyps, or cancer of the endometrium or uterus. Endometrial ablation lessens menstrual bleeding or stops it completely.
Are you awake when they do an ablation?
During surgical ablation, you can expect the following: General anesthesia (the patient is asleep) or local anesthesia with sedation (the patient is awake but relaxed and pain-free) may be used, depending on the individual case.
Which is better ablation or hysterectomy?
Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy is superior to endometrial ablation in terms of clinical effectiveness and has a similar proportion of complications, but takes longer to perform and is associated with a longer recovery.
What is your first period like after an ablation?
Most patients have a pinkish and watery discharge for up to a month or so. In rare cases, the first period after the ablation is heavy, but this will begin to improve thereafter. You should seek medical help if you develop a fever, pelvic pain not relieved by ibuprofen, vomiting, or a greenish discharge.
Is ablation better than hysterectomy?
How painful is an ablation?
Most people do not feel pain during the procedure. You may sense mild discomfort in your chest. After the ablation is over, your doctor will remove the guide wire and catheters from your chest.
Is the endometrial ablation procedure safe for women?
Endometrial ablation appears to be safe and effective for many women, and other physicians have told MedPage Today they still perform the procedure and it helps many of their patients. Others believe it may be overused and that patients aren’t always selected appropriately.
What kind of ablation is best for thinning uterine lining?
Thin your endometrium. Some types of endometrial ablation are more successful when the uterine lining is thin. Your doctor might prescribe medications or perform a dilation and curettage (D&C), a procedure in which the doctor scrapes out the extra tissue.
Can you have an ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding?
This is the second story in a series by MedPage Today on endometrial ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding. The first story focused on complications reported to the FDA’s Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. Here, we look into physicians’ evolving attitudes toward the procedure.
How does endometrial ablation reduce the number of hysterectomies?
Endometrial ablation has been seen as a way to reduce the number of hysterectomies in the U.S. — a procedure that has also come under scrutiny for being overdone, and one that carries more risks than ablation. Ronald Sancetta, MD, an ob/gyn in private practice in Miami, said his hysterectomy rate dropped by 95% after he started offering ablation.
