Endometrial ablation is a common procedure used in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. This article reviews the history and development of endometrial ablation techniques, examines current and upcoming technologies used in endometrial ablation, and reviews deficiencies in the literature.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
WortmanM. Late-onset endometrial ablation failure. Case Rep Women Health, 2017; 15:11.
2.
DührssenA. Steam in the treatment of uterine hemorrhage. Am J Med Sci, 1899; 118:487.
3.
SchmitzH. Radium in gynecology. Radium, 1917; 23:8.
4.
SchulzeM. Menorrhagia: The results of radium treatment—a follow-up study. Cal West Med, 1937; 47:101.
5.
SuttonC, AbbottJ. History of power sources in endoscopic surgery. J Minim Invasive Gynecol, 2013; 20:271.
6.
RubinIC. Uterine endoscopy, endometroscopy with the aid of uterine insufflation. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1925; 10:313.
7.
GoldrathMH, FullerTA, SegalS. Laser photovaporization of endometrium for the treatment of menorrhagia. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1981; 140:14.
8.
DeCherneyA, PolanML. Hysteroscopic management of intrauterine lesions and intractable uterine bleeding. Obstet Gynecol, 1983; 61:392.
9.
VancaillieTG. Electrocoagulation of the endometrium with the ball-end resectoscope. Obstet Gynecol, 1989; 74:425.
10.
MeyerWR, WalshBW, GraingerDA, et al.Thermal balloon and rollerball ablation to treat menorrhagia: A multicenter comparison. Obstet Gynecol, 1998; 92:98.
11.
CorsonSL. A multicenter evaluation of endometrial ablation by Hydro ThermAblator and rollerball for treatment of menorrhagia. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc, 2001; 8:359.
12.
CooperJ, GimpelsonR, LabergeP, et al.A randomized, multicenter trial of safety and efficacy of the NovaSure system in the treatment of menorrhagia. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc, 2002; 9:418.
13.
DulebaAJ, HeppardMC, SoderstromRM, et al.A randomized study comparing endometrial cryoablation and rollerball electroablation for treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc, 2003; 10:17.
14.
CooperJM, AndersonTL, FortinCA, et al.Microwave endometrial ablation vs. rollerball electroablation for menorrhagia: A multicenter randomized trial. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc, 2004; 11:394.
15.
FisherBR. 2015 Letter to Endometrial Ablation Industry about Objective Performance Criteria. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015. Online document at: www.fda.gov/media/94793/download. Accessed April26, 2021.
16.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Practice Bulletins. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 81: Endometrial Ablation. Obstet Gynecol, 2007; 109:1233[reaffirmed in 2015].
17.
BeelenP, ReindersIMA, ScheepersWFW, et al.Prognostic factors for the failure of endometrial ablation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol, 2019; 134:1269.
18.
MarjoribanksJ, LethabyA, FarquharC. Surgery versus medical therapy for heavy menstrual bleeding [update]. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2016; 1:CD003855
19.
RodriguezMB, LethabyA, FergussonRJ. Endometrial resection and ablation versus hysterectomy for heavy menstrual bleeding. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev, 2021; 2:CD000329.
20.
MarchandGJ, AzadiA, SainzK, et al.Systematic review, meta-analysis and statistical analysis of laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy vs endometrial ablation. J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc, 2021; 22:97.
BeelenP, van den BrinkMJ, HermanMC, et al.Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system versus endometrial ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2021; 224:187.e1.
23.
LabergeP, Garza-LealJ, FortinC, et al.One-year follow-up results of a multicenter, single-arm, objective performance criteria-controlled international clinical study of the safety and efficacy of the Minerva Endometrial Ablation System. J Minim Invasive Gynecol, 2015; 22:1169.
24.
LevieMD, ChudnoffSG. A prospective, multicenter, pivotal trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the AEGEA Vapor Endometrial Ablation System. J Minim Invasive Gynecol, 2019; 26:679.
25.
LeylandN, HarrisM. Water vapor endometrial ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding: 36-month follow-up of a prospective, multicenter pivotal clinical trial. Int J Women Health, 2021; 13:169.
26.
CurlinHL, CintronLC, AndersonTL. A prospective, multicenter, clinical trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Cerene device to treat heavy menstrual bleeding. J Minim Invasive Gynecol, 2020; 28:899.
27.
JohnsDA, Garza-LealJG, DiamondMP, et al.Post-ablation cavity evaluation: A prospective multicenter observational clinical study to evaluate hysteroscopic access to the uterine cavity 4 years after water vapor endometrial ablation for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. J Minim Invasive Gynecol, 2020; 27:1273.
