Ablation? Hysterectomy? How do I know? - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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Ablation? Hysterectomy? How do I know?

Ablation? Hysterectomy? How do I know?

From the Ask a Doctor - Hysterectomy Related Questions Articles List

HysterSisters Articles

Options to Hysterectomy
Pre-Op Hysterectomy
Post-Op Hysterectomy
Hormone and Menopause
Intimacy after Hysterectomy
Pelvic Floor
Fitness after Hysterectomy
GYN Cancer
Grief and Loss
Endometriosis
Uterine Fibroids
Hysterectomy Stories
Ask A Doctor

"I'm considering a hysterectomy because of consistent heavy bleeding. How would I know if I should try an ablation type treatment? It seems easier to go straight for the hysterectomy. What do I need to know?" - Karen

Answered by: Deborah Wilson MD
In my experience, an endometrial ablation will work best on a normal uterus. Many women who are bleeding heavily do not have a normal uterus, however.

Fibroids, adenomyosis, polyps, and hyperplasia all cause heavy bleeding and the best cure is often a hysterectomy instead of an ablation.

Ablations are not a guaranteed cure anyway. The "amenorrhea rate", or percentage of women who do not bleed at all after an ablation, is not anywhere near 100%. When the uterus is abnormal, the amenorrhea rate drops even more. So you could easily go through the ablation only to discover that you are still bleeding!

I would suggest an ultrasound and an endometrial biopsy before you make a decision about a procedure to treat your heavy bleeding. If your uterus is abnormal than you should consider a minimally invasive hysterectomy.

In reality, the recovery from a laparoscopic hysterectomy is fast and relatively painless. Return to full function is only a few days longer than it is for an ablation.

One sure thing... you will never bleed after a hysterectomy.

Answered by Keita Sakon M.D.
It depends on the cause of bleeding and your particular situation. If you don't have any contraindications to performing an endometrial ablation, it is a quick procedure with minimal recovery time and you may be very happy with it. But if you have large fibroid tumors or want 100% no bleeding, or want to have your ovaries taken out, or do not want to have the chance to go back to the operating room in the future, then you may prefer to go straight to hysterectomy.

The responses in the "Ask a Doctor" articles are provided by M.D./Surgeons with credentials in their linked profiles. The HysterSisters.com staff thanks the doctors for their participation and reminds all readers to discuss their medical concerns with their personal physicians for specific information about their health choices, as this is in no way intended to take the place of members consulting with their own physicians.

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Find A Doctor Near You

Jon Nielsen, M.D. 9825 Hospital Dr. Suite 205 Maple Grove MN 55369 763-587-7050	Elizabeth Stevenson-Gargiulo, M.D. 9101 North Central Expressway Suite 250 Dallas TX 75231 214-826-2979	Ruslana Kadze, M.D. 5525 Etiwanda Avenue Suite 228 Tarzana (Los Angeles) CA 91356 818-343-1717
Geoffrey Bowers, M.D. 834 Chestnut Street Suite 300 Philadelphia PA 19107 215-955-5000	Michele Cowling, M.D. 303 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville MN 55337 952.460.4000	Mayra J. Thompson, M.D. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd Dept OBGYN Dallas TX 75290 214-645-3888
Megan Bird, M.D. 364 SE 8th Ave, Suite 205 Hillsboro OR 97202 503-681-4145	Melanie Bone, M.D. 5301 S. Congress Ave. Atlantis FL 33462 561-548-8600	Jennifer Hayes, M.D. Visionary Centre for Women 2695 Ulmerton Rd Clearwater FL 33762 727-540-0414

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