23
Jun
Treatment of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Endometrial Ablation Can Reduce The Need For Hysterectomies
Approximately 600,000 American women have a hysterectomy every year, according to the Hysterectomy Association, and by the age of 60, one out of every three women will have had one. Dr. Thomas Meyer of Lake Barrington Women’s Health Center was selected in 2010 by TopTierMD as a Chicago Top Doctor - He was named a Best OB / Gyne, specializing in minimally invasive surgery, treatment of menopause, treatment of urinary incontinence, and treatment of abnormal pap smears. He practices in Barrington, IL and Algonquin, IL and is affiliated with Advocate Good Shepherd.
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. It is the second most common operation performed in the United States today. But it’s not always the best decision, according to many medical experts.
“Being a generalist, we try to focus on what is most available to our patients and I am a firm believer that surgery is always the last thing you consider for a patient,” Dr. Tom Meyer, MD, selected as a Chicago Top Doctor by TopTierMD as a top rated OB/GYN in Chicago, said. “We evaluate other options first. I am a conservative person in that regards.”
There are alternatives for some before considering a hysterectomy. Women suffering from dysfunctional uterine bleeding can be treated with endometrial ablation, which is an outpatient procedure in which the lining of the uterus is destroyed with heat, mechanically or by radio frequency ablation.
An estimated five percent of women between the ages of 30 and 49 years old are afflicted with abnormal menstrual bleeding or dysfunctional uterine bleeding, which can be severe enough in some cases to cause hemorrhagic shock. These cases commonly occur at either end of a woman's reproductive years - either at the beginning or near the end - though they can occur at any time during reproductive life.
Two thirds of all hysterctomies and most endoscopic endometrial destructive surgeries are performed as a result of excessive menstrual bleeding.
There are many causes for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, including carcinomas of the cervix, uterus and ovaries; structural disorders and polycystic ovary disease.
“Certainly before considering a hysterectomy, we perform the endometrial ablation, which has remarkably reduced hysterectomies,” Dr. Meyer said. “It’s safer and has been a huge factor from the standpoint that it has reduced the hysterectomy with non-invasive procedures.” The procedure can often be performed in the office on an outpatient basis, lasting 15 - 30 minutes, and patients can normally return to work or full function the next day.
Endometrial ablation will greatly reduce or entirely eliminate monthly bleeding in a large percentage of patients, although it is not effective for women with very thick uterine lining or uterine fibroids.
