My Endometrial Ablation Experience

If you come to this post via Google then you already know what Endometrial Ablation is. For those who don’t know it is a procedure to remove a thin layer of tissue in the uterus. One in seven women suffer with abnormal uterine bleeding during their reproductive years, according to Fraser et al. Endometrial ablation has become a very popular surgical procedure used by gynecologist to combat this problem. In this blog post I will share with you my endometrial ablation experience.

My Endometrial Ablation Experience

When I was 27, I underwent my first endometrial ablation to treat heavy periods. I was finished having children, and my husband had already undergone a vasectomy. I was therefore recommended to undergo endometrial ablation by my gynecologist at that time.

Following an unsuccessful first procedure, I had a second procedure two years later. It resulted in a 100% success rate for me in terms of reducing my heavy menstrual flow. Actually, it has been stopped completely.

Nevertheless, hormonal responses were still experienced by my body. Since my ovaries still function, my body attempts to create new life with every ovulation. I experienced this for more than 15 years during each ovulatory cycle.

This resulted in endometrial regrowth, an overgrowth of uterine lining, uterine polyps, and pelvic pain over time.  I went  six years and saw three gynecologist before it was recommend I under go a biopsy. My new gynecologist suspected that I had endometrial cancer.

Sadly my gynecologist was unable to perform a  successful endometrial biopsy due to uterine scarring. Since cancer may be missed behind the adhesion it was recommended that I undergo a complete hysterectomy. My hysterectomy was successful and no cancer was found. I was fortunate and my thoughts and prayers are with those less fortunate that their cancer is missed or undiscovered.

Cases like mine and other case series add to the growing evidence of the difficulty in assessing the endometrial cavity after an ablation.

Are there complications from endometrial ablation?

It may appear totally safe at first. The problem is years after this procedure, uterine scarring can occur.

Age at the time of your procdure is the single most important risk factor. Women who have Endometrial Ablation before the age of 40 have a significantly increased risk for hysterectomy. In fact, according to case series for those younger than age 40, the hysterectomy rate is 40%.

Endometrial ablation isn’t a sterilization technique.

A endometrial ablation is not contraceptive. Pregnancy is possible after. However, these pregnancies are at a higher risk. Your pregnancy may end in miscarriage due to the lining of your uterus being damaged, or you may have an ectopic pregnancy.

Closing thoughts

I can not tell you not to get an Endometrial Ablation or am I suggesting an alternative. I am sharing what happen to me in hopes that you will not have to go through what I did.

Works Cited

Challenges of endometrial evaluation in women with postmenopausal bleeding with history of ablation – case series

https://www.ejog.org/article/S0301-2115(16)30465-1/fulltext

Long-Term Complications of Minimally Invasive Endometrial Ablation Devices

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/gyn.2009.0016

Can anything be done to prevent pregnancy after endometrial ablation?

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1471-0528.14853

Post ablation risk factors for pain and subsequent hysterectomy.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25437717

Likelihood of Hysterectomy after Endometrial Ablation

https://www.reliasmedia.com/articles/112729-likelihood-of-hysterectomy-after-endometrial-ablation