A lot of women, especially of a certain age, suffer from abnormal or dysfunctional bleeding of the uterus. In order to treat this, the doctors sometimes suggest a remedial surgery which is called endometrial ablation. There is a lining inside your uterus known as endometrium and the process of destroying that inner lining is known as endometrial ablation. The surgery is done by heat laser, beams, freezing, microwave etc. Here are some more details on the issue which you may wish to know
Endometrial Ablations: Some Facts Worth Noting
You may wonder what exactly endometrial ablation is. It is a process which ablates or destroys the endometrial lining of the uterus and this is done to reduce the bleeding in the uterus. If you are having continuous heavy vaginal bleeding during menstruation the doctors may suggest endometrial ablation as treatment. Sometimes such heavy bleeding may also lead to anemia. However, generally, the doctors first try to treat it through external medication or IUD but the ablation process becomes essential if
- The problem has not responded to any other treatments
- You already have a child or a number of children
- There are medical problems that are preventing hysterectomy
- Hysterectomy is not your preferred way of treatment.
There are different procedures by which this is done. The surgery can be done with local or spinal anesthesia or complete anesthesia. The process can be done by
- Using Laser beams which is called laser thermal ablation.
- Using Heat known as thermal ablation- in this process normal saline can be used or a balloon containing heated saline water could be used. Alternatively radio frequency is also used.
- Microwave is another process of ablating the lining.
- Freezing is also used.
The process of endometrical ablation can take something round 45 minutes to be completed. In most of the cases, this leads to reduced blood flow. However, in some cases, there can be vaginal discharges after the process is completed, and even a bit of bleeding may occur. The recovery period from the surgery ranges from 2 days to 2 weeks.
Generally, younger women benefit out of this more than there elder one but they might need to follow the procedure for more than once. However, if you are planning to have a kid in future, this process is not for you. Similarly, women with Uterine cancer, tendency of severe cramps during menstruation, have had menopause, or just gave birth to a child cannot have this procedure either.
Before going into this process, you must note the risks that are associated with it. At times there can be damages inside the uterus including burning or puncture. Similarly it can also affect the inner organs of your abdomen. Sometimes, there are also fluid accumulations inside the lungs. These problems, though not too common can be serious.
If you have a high chance of endometric cancer, then this procedure is not suitable for you. Therefore, get a thorough check up and consult doctors before you actually go ahead and perform an endometrial ablation since it is potentially complicated process.
