Endometrial Ablation for abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Most causes of vaginal bleeding originate from the lining of the uterus called the endometrium. This is where the menstrual flow comes from. When the cause of abnormal vaginal bleeding is primarily due to an imbalance in hormone stimulation to the endometrium or because of polyps in the endometrium, then Endometrial Ablation is an appropriate, effective, non-surgical procedure to return menses to normal and often eliminate it altogether. It does impair fertility and should not be done unless childbearing is complete.
Endometrial Ablation is the removal of the lining of the uterus by destruction that either heats or cools the lining with an intensity and control that is sufficient to eliminate the lining without injury to the rest of the uterus.
Endometrial Ablation procedures started to become popular in the U.S. in the early 1990s and were only done in the operating room. The technology has evolved to become ever more safe and faster with minimal downtime (typically 2 days) and now can be comfortably done in the Doctor's office.
With the Thermachoice III procedure for endometrial ablation a small balloon is passed into the vagina and then into the uterus. The balloon is then filled with a 5% sugar water solution and heated by a small filament inside the balloon. The lining of the uterus is treated for 8 minutes and then the balloon is drained and removed.
Thermachoice III follow up reports: 94% of women had menses return to normal or less than normal flow. 37% had no menstrual flow at one year after the procedure and 89% had reduced menstrual pain. There was a 96% satisfaction rate. Thermachoice III is the method that Dr. Smith uses.
