Endometrial Ablation - Alternative to Hysterectomy

Being able to remove the fibroids from the uterus and cauterizing the uterine lining to remove any traces of the tumors helps to create relief from any pain caused by them. Additionally, the pain incurred from the surgery itself is mild when compared to a number of other procedures, such as a hysterectomy.

Another benefit of endometrial ablation surgery is that it can help remove the threat of a malignancy in the uterus. While most fibroid tumors turn out to be benign, it is not unusual for most people who hear of a tumor growing anywhere in the body to worry about cancer.

Removing the tumors from the uterus and performing a biopsy will help to quickly settle the mind of the woman in question, as well as her loved ones. In the rare instance where the tumors turn out to be malignant, then the chances of successfully treating the condition are much better than if they tumors had been left alone.

A further advantage of endometrial ablation surgery is the relatively short recovery period. Women lead busy lives, whether they work in the business world or at home. There may be some stress created if the woman faces a several weeks of being unable to work within her usual routine.

The good news is that ablation surgery generally requires no more than four to five days before returning to a normal routine, less any heavy lifting that may be required. The quick turnaround can take a lot of worry off the mind of the busy woman.

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Endometrial ablation is essentially the cauterization of the lining of the uterus and in clinical terms, is a relatively new procedure.

While the procedure requires a shorter recovery time and is certainly less of a trauma to the body than a hysterectomy, there are nevertheless some risks involved with the procedure. To that end, here are some examples of the known risks of endometrial ablation that you should be aware of before undergoing the procedure.

As with other types of surgical procedure, endometrial ablation surgery shares some of the same risks associated with other operations. Since the ablation process takes place often in an outpatient situation, there is the option of using anesthesia or an epidermal to make the patient comfortable during surgery. Some people have reactions to these methods of anesthetic after the surgery, including dry heaves and vomiting. This type of violent reaction can further inflame the walls of the uterus and slow the recovery process. Upset stomach and a mild headache may also ensue on a short-term basis, but should fade out in a couple of days.

Endometrial ablation is often performed when there is the presence of fibroid tumors in the uterus and removing these tumors may be all that is required. However, one of the endometrial ablation risks that a woman faces is the chance of sterility. While the procedure is not designed to inhibit the ability to have a child, there is some risk that the process of cauterizing may create that situation for some women.

Post surgical risks also include a temporary change in mood, some possible weight gain on a short term basis, and even some loss of hair for a short time, depending on what type of post-surgical medications are proscribed. At present, few women experience any long-term risks from undergoing an endometrial ablation.

Other than the possibility of sterility, most risk factors are temporary and can be dealt with effectively as and when they appear. However, the person who will know best what, if any, risks are potentially involved in your particular case would be your primary care physician.

If you think that you may be a candidate for this type of surgery, it is always a good idea to consult with your doctor for information about specific endometrial ablation risks that may come into play for you.

Endometrial ablation is a procedure that is often carried out as an outpatient basis, which negates the need to spend a week or so in hospital as would be the case with a hysterectomy. However, it is still a serious operation that should be prepared for, in terms of the surgery itself and the post operation recovery time

If you are about to undergo endometrial ablation surgery, here are a few things you should bear in mind to help make the process of undergoing surgery and having a safe recovery much easier.

As with any medical procedure, it is important to follow your doctor's orders to the letter. While the list of things you need to observe in the way of food and drink are short, they are nevertheless important. Make sure you do not eat or drink after the period set by the doctor, and refrain from any beverages that the doctor does not want in your system during the operation.

Remember that even with outpatient procedures, patients are still given some sort of anesthetic whether general or local. In the case of endometrial ablation, you may have the choice of an epidermal or anesthesia. Either way, you will be in no fit state to drive yourself home after the operation is completed. Make plans for transport to take you home once the doctor releases you.

Bear in mind that you will not likely be able to return to work the next day. Generally, it is recommended that a woman who undergoes an endometrial ablation procedure takes at least four or five days to recover before resuming limited normal activity. Make plans with your work place or with the family so that you will not feel any pressure to return to your normal routine before you are ready.

Endometrial ablation is an invasive procedure and as such, carries the usual risks associated with surgery. Educate yourself about the possible side effects of the surgery that may include headaches, bleeding, discharge and stomach cramps. This will help you be prepared to deal with any side effects that do occur, as well as help you understand they are usually nothing to be concerned about and will pass in a short period of time.

Although a comparatively new procedure, endometrial ablation surgery has already tallied a high success rate. For most women, the advantages far outweigh any disadvantages, especially when compared to the alternative hysterectomy operation.

Endometrial ablation surgery is normally performed on an outpatient basis, which means that it is carried out during the same day, and will not require you to remain in hospital for any length of time. Having said that, an overnight stay may be necessary in some cases. You should discuss the risks and benefits of having endometrial ablation with your doctor and talk about the alternatives to the procedure.

Under normal circumstances, endometrial ablation usually takes about thirty minutes to complete.

A general anaesthetic (you will be asleep during the procedure) is normally given before endometrial ablation surgery although a local anaesthesia may be used in some cases. The local anaesthetic will numb the area so that you do not feel any pain but you will still be awake. Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, a surgical instrument called a hysteroscope (a type of telescope) is inserted through the vagina and into your cervix. This will enable the doctor to see the womb.

There are several different methods used to remove the womb lining and depending which procedure the doctor chooses will dictate the type of instruments used.

• Electrocautery or diathermy is where the womb lining is burnt off using a low voltage electric current through a wire or probe.


• LEEP or loop electrosurgical excision procedure is similar to electrocautery, except that the wire or probe has a loop on the end to remove the womb lining.


• Laser ablation is a high-energy beam of light that is used to destroy the womb lining.


• MEA or Microwave Endometrial Ablation is a newer procedure whereby the lining of the womb is destroyed to a depth three to six millimetres using the heat of microwaves. MEA is a quicker procedure that can be carried out under local anaesthetic and does not require the use of the hysteroscope.

You can expect to spend up to four or five days after the surgery spending a lot of time relaxing and getting over the after effects of the surgery before more or less returning to your normal routine. However, you will be prohibited from heavy lifting until your doctor deems it safe.

Since endometrial ablation surgery is an invasive procedure, you can anticipate some pain and discomfort. The procedure itself involves cauterizing the walls of the uterus, so there is the chance of some sense of burning as well as inflammation during the recovery time. Your doctor will proscribe medication that will both help ease the pain as well as help bring any inflammation under control.

One very positive expectation of the procedure is that you will not longer have the presence of fibroid tumors in your uterus. While these can often be benign and cause little or no pain, some women do experience discomfort from the tumors. Being free of that discomfort makes the short-term pains of undergoing endometrial ablation surgery well worth the time and effort.

For more information on the endometrial ablation procedure, the side effects, and the benefits of having the surgery, consult your primary care physician.

Endometrial ablation is a viable alternative to undergoing a hysterectomy. However, as with any type of surgical procedure, there is the chance of some side effects developing once the procedure is completed.

One of the more common side effects of undergoing endometrial ablation is running a temperature. This is not unusual, even for patients that undergo an outpatient procedure such as this. Typically, the temperature will be a low-grade phenomenon that will pass in a couple of days.

Another example of endometrial ablation side effects is that there is the chance of stomach cramps and a sense of fatigue associated with the procedure. Generally, both of these conditions will last no longer than four to five days after the surgery is performed, with the pain and listlessness peaking around the third day.

These two symptoms are why many women choose to take a few days off to recover after the procedure, instead of jumping back into their normal routine. Combined with the vaginal discharge that is also common during the first few days after the operation, the side effects can be intense enough to make normal function extremely difficult.

While some women do experience severe side effects after undergoing an endometrial ablation, the fact is that many patients only experience mild reactions or even no reactions at all. Certainly, the procedure itself is much less of a strain on the body than a hysterectomy, and will require less recovery time.

While the procedure was only developed in the late 1990's, endometrial ablation has already demonstrated a high success rate, with very few serious issues coming to the fore.

All in all, endometrial ablation side effects are fewer in number and often much less severe than the after effects of other types of invasive feminine surgery.