Effect of Endometrial Ablation on Premenstrual Symptoms

Abstract

Abstract Study Objective To evaluate the effect of endometrial ablation on 6 premenstrual symptoms for up to 1 year after treatment. Design Prospective cohort of 59 women awaiting endometrial ablation (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting University tertiary care hospital. Patients Adult women of childbearing age awaiting endometrial ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding were recruited through the gynecology clinic of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke. Fifty-nine patients were recruited, of whom 9 were excluded. Women were eligible to participate after an initial self-evaluation of ≥3 out of 10 for at least 1 premenstrual symptom. Interventions Women underwent endometrial ablation using the microwave, impedance-controlled, or rollerball technique. Measurements and Main Results Women had to fill out 2 surveys at 3 time points: before surgery, 4 months after surgery, and 12 months after surgery. The first survey consisted of visual analog scales for self-evaluation of 6 premenstrual symptoms (i.e., irritability, agitation/anxiety, depression/sadness, headache, swelling/bloating, and breast tenderness), and the second evaluated the heaviness of menstrual bleeding. The severity of all 6 symptoms decreased significantly (p Conclusion Women reported significant improvement for the 6 premenstrual symptoms for up to 1 year following an endometrial ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding. The improvement of these symptoms appears to be linked to the efficacy of the procedure.