Endometrial ablation is an alternative option to hysterectomy for the therapeutic management of excessive menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia). It involves the removal or destruction of the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus, known as the endometrium.
This procedure is often selected when medication has failed or when a woman does not wish to undergo other forms of treatment.
Many doctors recommend a hysterectomy as a treatment for women with heavy or prolonged bleeding. Endometrial ablation (or endometrial curettage) is indicated when the size of the uterus is normal or only slightly enlarged. It is not indicated when the uterus is significantly enlarged, contains multiple fibroids, or when there is suspicion of cancer.
Endometrial ablation may be performed with a surgical hysteroscope (a small telescope) that has a special channel through which a device called a curette, or a laser fibre instrument, can pass. These tools are used by the surgeon to mechanically remove or to ablate (destroy with laser energy) the endometrium. Today, additional devices can also be introduced into the uterine cavity to destroy the endometrium, such as thermal balloon ablation, radiofrequency ablation, the NovaSure system, and hydrothermal ablation. The method used depends on the surgeon’s preference, skill, and experience. These procedures have an approximate success rate of 80%.
Some of these methods can be performed in an outpatient setting (no hospital admission required), while others require general anesthesia.
If you have been advised to undergo endometrial ablation and wish to learn more about the different techniques, success rates, and possible complications, please register with our secure service and complete the structured questionnaire, the contents of which remain confidential. You will receive detailed information on each technique and its potential complications, based on medical literature and tailored specifically to your own condition. This information will be provided to you personally by an experienced professional in this medical field.
