A surgical procedure used to treat abnormal bleeding from the uterus by eliminating tissue in the lining of the uterus. An alternative to hysterectomy, endometrial ablation is a relatively new approach to abnormal uterine bleeding, especially during menopause. An instrument called a hysteroscope is used to visualize the inside of the uterus and to cauterize (use heat to destroy cells and stop bleeding) its lining by one of several methods that may include laser or electronic heat probes. The advantages of endometrial ablation over a hysterectomy include shorter hospitalization and recovery time and fewer serious complications.
Removal or destruction of the whole thickness of the endometrium and some superficial myometrium. The purpose is to remove all of the endometrial glandular material. This is done to treat benign disturbances of menstrual bleeding in women who do not wish to preserve fertility. Ablation may be done by use of the following: Laser or electrosurgical: YAG laser or high-powered “rollerball” electrocoagulation is used to destroy the uterine endometrium and 2 to 3 cm of myometrium. Thermal : A balloon catheter containing a heating element that delivers temperatures to 188°F (87°C) and a controller that monitors, displays, and regulates pressure, time, and temperature are used for heat-mediated endometrial destruction.
Endometrial ablation serves as a therapeutic intervention for unrelenting menorrhagia—excessive menstrual bleeding—where it necessitates the excision of the endometrium, the innermost quilt of the uterine structure. In this meticulous procedure, endoscopy provides a window into the uterine cavity, facilitating the eradication of the endometrium via diathermy—a heat-based technique—laser intervention, or a microwave probe, known as MEA. However, it’s vital to note that endometrial ablation is strictly reserved for those with no future pregnancy aspirations.