Surgical alternatives for uterine bleeding - Gynecology - medical research - Brief Article

Excessive uterine bleeding (menorrhagia) is the cause of more than 20% of the 600,000 hysterectomies performed in the U.S. each year. The Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource reports that new surgical procedures are making hysterectomy unnecessary for some women with menorrhagia. The procedures are typically performed in outpatient settings, and patients often can return to their normal activities within 24 hours.

Surgical alternatives to hysterectomy for menorrhagia involve removing or destroying the uterine lining. There are three procedures that are most commonly performed:

* Ablation with laser therapy uses a laser or electrical current to destroy the uterine lining. Complications include possible uterine perforation or fluid imbalances resulting from the procedure.

* Rollerball diathermy utilizes a device that applies heat as it rolls across the surface of the uterine lining. It is less likely to cause complications, but still carries some of the same risks as standard ablation.

* Thermal balloon ablation is the preferred therapy. A heated, fluid-filled balloon is inflated in the uterus and left in contact with the uterine lining for about eight minutes. The procedure is less likely to cause uterine perforation than the other two options.

Researchers are evaluating several other procedures that, for example, use microwave radiation or intravenous medications. All of the procedures cited are only available to women who have no chance of becoming pregnant. Although the uterus is left intact, the destroyed lining cannot support a pregnancy.

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