DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have been identified with endometriosis and have heavy menstrual bleeding. My well being care supplier stated I ought to think about endometrial ablation. A good friend informed me it is likely to be problematic as a result of I am solely in my late 20s, and it might have an effect on my skill to conceive a baby down the street. What are the dangers? Are different remedies obtainable?

ANSWER: Endometrial ablation can scale back heavy menstrual bleeding considerably. However you must think about the potential dangers related to this process, particularly if you’re suspected to have endometriosis based mostly on pelvic ache.

Ladies are generally given a analysis of endometriosis based mostly on signs, together with pelvic ache and heavy durations, however definitive analysis is just potential with biopsy or excision of lesions—often carried out laparoscopically. That is known as a keyhole surgical procedure. If endometriosis is confirmed with surgical procedure, then the advice for therapy is excision of the endometriosis.

Options to surgical procedure for endometriosis can embrace hormonal suppression with capsules, an intrauterine gadget, subdermal implants or injections. Whereas endometriosis has no treatment, these remedies can scale back signs to a extra manageable degree in some instances. You will need to notice that surgical removing of endometriosis is not going to essentially assist with heavy menstrual bleeding.

Throughout your interval, your physique sheds the liner of your uterus, known as the “endometrium.” When durations turn into unusually heavy frequently, the situation needs to be evaluated. Usually, producing sufficient blood to soak by means of a pad or tampon each two hours or much less is taken into account heavy movement. Heavy menstrual bleeding typically is handled initially with hormonal suppression, as mentioned above. However it additionally will be handled with endometrial ablation, as talked about by your well being care supplier.

Endometrial ablation destroys the uterine lining. Though strategies differ, the process often is carried out utilizing devices that ship warmth or excessive chilly to the endometrium. After endometrial ablation, many ladies nonetheless have durations, however they’re much lighter.

Age is a significant component in how seemingly you’re to expertise issues after endometrial ablation. Age performs a task in that development as a result of ablation strategies hardly ever destroy the entire endometrium, and the endometrium tends to regenerate previous to menopause. The youthful a affected person is when she has endometrial ablation, the longer the endometrium has to develop again and the extra alternatives there are for issues to come up through the years.

When age is the one consideration, analysis exhibits that the best ablation candidate typically is older than 40. As a result of danger of uterine most cancers after menopause, endometrial ablation is often not beneficial after menopause.

One consequence of endometrial ablation is that scar tissue varieties throughout the uterus after the process, altering the construction of the uterine cavity. Due to that change, when you have irregular bleeding after endometrial ablation it may be more difficult in your well being care supplier to evaluate the reason for the bleeding and deal with it. The scar tissue can also hinder menstrual movement. In some instances, that causes ache.

If irregular bleeding or persistent ache presents after endometrial ablation, surgical removing of the uterus—a hysterectomy—could also be mandatory. A number of research have checked out predictors to find out which girls are most probably to require a hysterectomy after endometrial ablation. Though many predictors have been reported, probably the most constant is age. Analysis exhibits endometrial ablation provides predictable outcomes for the primary 5 to seven years following the process. Charges of hysterectomy development upward after that.

In a single Mayo Clinic examine of ladies who had endometrial ablation, elements that elevated the chance of requiring a hysterectomy after ablation included being youthful than 45 on the time of ablation, vital menstrual ache earlier than ablation, and tubal ligation earlier than ablation. If a lady had all three danger elements, there was a 50% to 60% probability of hysterectomy inside 5 years of ablation. Conversely, in sufferers older than 45 with out vital menstrual ache earlier than the process and no historical past of tubal ligation, solely about 5% required a hysterectomy inside 5 years of ablation.

Given your age and potential being pregnant plans, endometrial ablation wouldn’t be beneficial. Pregnancies following endometrial ablation are high-risk for each the mom and her child.

For youthful girls like your self, different efficient remedies exterior of ablation can be found to ease heavy menstrual bleeding, together with hormonal drugs, contraception capsules and intrauterine gadgets. Focus on all of your choices, together with their dangers and advantages, along with your well being care supplier to resolve which selection is greatest for you.