Uterine Ablation

Thick clouds covered the skies threatening to rain, despite that Esther sat on a park bench looking into the horizon. She wished that John were there standing beside her and telling her that everything would be alright, but unfortunately that was not to be. Closing her eyes she envisioned her children and knew she had to be strong for them, with this thought in mind; she stood up and buttoned her coat, deciding she would go in for uterine ablation.

Uterine Ablation - What is it?

Uterine ablation or endometrial ablation is the destruction or removal of the endometrium (uterus lining). Fortunately this process does not require hospitalization so women who suffer from heavy uterine bleeding opt for this procedure instead of going in for major surgery.

When should I consider uterine ablation?

Women opt for this procedure when:

• The bleeding causes them to become tired and anemic.
• Activities are limited because of their periods.
• The bleeding restricts intimate time with their partner.
• The bleeding has not responded to any other procedure.
• The process of childbearing is complete.
• They cannot opt for hysterectomy because of some medical problem.

How can endometrial ablation be done?

Uterine ablation can be done using the following processes:

• Electricity - In this process a resectoscope with a loop or rolling ball electrode is used.
• Heat - This process uses radio frequency and a balloon that has been filed with a saline solution that has been heated to 85 C.
• Freezing
• Laser Beams

How do I know if uterine ablation is right for me?

Your physician will help your decide if uterine ablation is right for you by taking your medical history. Apart from that he/she might also conduct other tests such as blood tests, uterine lining sampling, ultrasonography and/or hysteroscopy.

What does this procedure involve?

In this procedure a narrow viewing tube is inserted through the cervix and the vagina into the uterus. A camera that is fitted to the viewing tube allows the cavity to be shown on a TV monitor during the surgery. Once the cavity is viewed, it is filled with a harmless liquid and then burned or vaporized using a heat generated tool that is inserted through the viewing tube.

What are the things I need to take care of after the procedure?

After the procedure, the doctor may advise you to:

• Meet him/her for about a week after the surgery.
• Not to have sexual intercourse for a specified period, which is usually two weeks or until the discharge stops.
• Avoid activity that causes strain for at least 24 hours after the procedure.

What are the risks associated with endometrial ablation?

Usually there are no risks associated with uterine ablation, of course if they do occur they can be quite severe.

Some of the complications include:

• Burns to the surface of the bowel or the uterus.
• Fluid in the lungs, that is also known as pulmonary edema.
• Accidental perforation or puncture of the uterus.
• Arterial blockage flow within the lung, also known as pulmonary embolism.
• Opening of the uterus getting torn, which is also referred to as cervical laceration.