Endometrial Ablation/Cryoablation

Through hysteroscopy, the endometrial lining can be completely destroyed with a variety of "ablation" techniques. Ablation involves the removal of tissue through cauterizing it or lasering.

Cryoablation involves a freezing technique and represents only one of many new methods that are being developed in an effort to make endometrial ablation a more effective treatment for abnormal bleeding.

Ablation typically controls bleeding 70 to 90 percent of the time but long-term side effects are not known. Submucosal fibroids must be removed prior to endometrial ablation through hysteroscopic myomectomy.

You might think that with this procedure a woman would no longer have bleeding from a monthly menstrual period. The lining is gone, right? This is not always the case, however, and some women end up undergoing a second endometrial ablation or move right along to have a hysterectomy because of continued bleeding. Fibroids play a key role in this and if intramural or subserosal fibroids are present, you may want to consider another method of reducing or eliminating your abnormal bleeding. For instance, if you do not have intramural fibroids but DO have subserosal fibroids, you might want to consider combining myolysis with endometrial ablation. There is some research to indicate this to be a successful combination for many women. In that case, you are treating not only the symptom of bleeding but also the fibroids through a slightly more invasive procedure.

While endometrial ablation does seem to be an effective means of treating abnormal bleeding, it is NOT an effective stand-alone treatment for dealing with uterine fibroids.

Link	Site Name/Author	What You'll Find
www.fda.gov/fdac/ features/2001/601_tech.html	FDA Consumer magazine November-December 2001. Linda Bren	Alternatives to Hysterectomy: New Technologies, More Options.
www.ihr.com/bafertil/articles/ ubtstudy.html	Reproductive Science Center Ž of the San Francisco Bay Area Dr. D.I. Galen	Endometrial Ablation - Uterine Balloon Therapy System
www.obgyn.net/hysteroscopy /articles/endoabl_32499.htm	OBGYN.net Dr. Andrew B. Dott	Endometrial Ablation and Hysteroscopic Surgery Explanation of the procedure and expected outcomes.
www.ivf.com//eablate.html	Dr. Mark Perloe Atlanta Reproductive Health Centre	Endometrial Ablation as an alternative to hysterectomy. Simply presented, complete with a glossary of related medical terms.
www.gynalternatives.com/ ablation.htm	Dr. Paul Indman OBGYN.net	Alternatives in Gynecology. Endometrial Ablation.
www.ihr.com/bafertil/ articles/formendo.html	Reproductive Science Center Ž of the San Francisco Bay Area	Confusing explanation of endometrial cautery with a Yag laser vs. the use of electric cautery ("Rollerball") to cauterize or destroy the endometrial tissue thereby reducing bleeding.
www.womens-health.com/gyn_health/ gyn_md_ablation.html	Women's Health Interactive	Menstrual Disorders. Treatment of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding. Endometrial Ablation. Who may benefit and how it works.
onhealth.com/ch1/in- depth/item/item,2524_1_1.asp	OnHealth Network Co.	1/23/98 New Treatment for Excessive Menstrual Bleeding. Uterine Balloon Therapy
www.pslgroup.com/dg/ 141d26.htm	P/S/L Consulting Group, Inc.	11/3/99 Investigational Freezing Procedure May Reduce Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
www.chirurgie-endo.asso.fr/ endosurg/7%20HYSTEROSCOPIE/ anglais/hys3.html	Centre International de Chirurgie Endoscopique CICE	Resectoscopic Endometrial Ablation: The Resection Technique