4 Questions to Ask Endometrial Ablation Specialist

Endometrial ablation is a medical procedure that your doctor may recommend if you are continuing to bleed in-between your periods, if your periods are lasting for long periods of time, or if you have a heavy flow. Endometrial ablation will help curb the bleeding or stop it together.

Heavy menstrual bleeding can have different causes, it can be due to your hormones changing, polyps growing on the uterus or fibroids. Endometrial ablation will remove the endometrium completely, which is the lining found within the uterus. On average, your periods will return back to normal, or may even have a lighter flow, sometimes you may notice it stop completely.

Endometrial ablation was created to destroy the uterine lining found in the uterus. Often, your doctor will recommend endometrial ablation if you are suffering from extreme menstrual periods that are quite heavy, and cannot be controlled with medication.

Healthcare physicians will consider your menstrual flow to be too heavy if your sanitary pad or tampons are soaking through within 2 hours. Other reasons they may recommend endometrial ablation include:

– Heavy period bleeding lasting for 8 days or longer
– You are bleeding between your periods
– Anemia is occurring as a result of your period

In most cases, the endometrial lining will be destroyed, and the regrowth of the lining may occur in normal ways, or it will occur in abnormal ways. Endometrial ablation is helpful for many women, but it will not be recommended for everyone. It is best to speak to your healthcare provider about your symptoms, as well as what options are available to you.

Before endometrial ablation is performed, your doctor may:

– Perform a pregnancy check to ensure you are not pregnant
– Cancer screening
– Remove your IUD if you have one in
– Thin out the endometrium
– Discuss your anesthesia options based on your past health

During the endometrial ablation procedure:

– Opening of the cervix will need to become dilated to allow instruments to pass through to be used in the endometrial ablation procedure
– Endometrial ablation procedure will vary by a method performed:

Electrosurgery
A slender scope will be used to view inside the uterus. An instrument will then be passed through the inserted scope, it will be heated and used to carve furrows into your endometrium.

Cryoablation
Cryoablation is the opposite of heat, it instead uses cool ice balls which will freeze and destroy the endometrium. A real-time ultrasound will be used to ensure they can view the progress of the ice balls. A few cycles may be performed depending on the shape and size of your uterus.

Free-flowing hot fluid
Heated saline fluid will be used to circulate within the uterus for around 10 minutes. There is an advantage to this method, as it can be performed on women who may have irregular-shaped uteruses due to abnormal tissue growth which can distort the uterus.

Heated balloon
A heated balloon device will be inserted through the cervix and will be inflated with heated fluid.

Microwave
The microwave procedure uses a slender wand that is inserted through the dilated cervix. The wand will emit microwaves, which are heat to the endometrial tissue.

Radiofrequency
Radiofrequency uses a special instrument that unfurls a flexible ablation device inside of your uterus. The device will transmit radiofrequency energy that will vaporize all of the endometrial tissue in under two minutes.
After the endometrial ablation procedure, you may experience:
– Cramping
– Vaginal discharge
– Frequent urination

Due to this procedure being able to destroy the endometrial tissue, there are risks associated with it including:

– Heavy bleeding afterward
– Allergic reactions
– Puncturing the uterus
– Harming any organs that are near the uterus

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