Menopause and ablation

Hi, I have been in perimenopause for 2 years now and suffered heavy bleeding and clotting with extreme pain. My Dr. in Greece said I had polyps on my cervix should have it taken off and a D&C.  I went to my Dr. here in the USA and he said there are no polyps on my cervix and that they may have "fallen off" naturally. He recommended I get an ablation and D&C as maybe the polyps are in my uterus.  Since that time I have stopped my periods (3 months now) and no pain or bleeding.  Do you think it is necessary to go ahead with the procedure as I am feeling great now since going into menopause? I've heard that the ablation hinders cancer detection in the uterus so Im quite leary of going through that procedure now.  Also if there are any polyps in my uterus can they become cancerous?

[PerimenoWorried]

Coincidentally, I am going to see the gynecologist tomorrow for results of a sonohystergram which was ordered following a uterine biopsy (good results but, with polyp fragments) to find out if there are polyps as the possible cause of nearly 9 1/2 months now of on and off spotting.  I don't mind saying that I'm worried and scared.  :(

Polyps of the uterus as I've been told are RARELY cancerous.  They are pretty much benign growths.  If they are of a certain size and causing bleeding (I believe my gynecologist said 1 cm or more) they should be removed IF bleeding persists.  Of course, there is always a very tiny chance that there could be cancerous changes within the polyp but, since your bleeding has stopped for 3 months now, I'm not sure that there's a real urgency or even necessity in having this procedure done right now.  Of course, only your doctor can tell you for certain but, if this were me, I'd likely wait another couple of months to see what happens.  If there's no more bleeding, I'd not worry about it.  Due to the fact that your doc is uncertain as to whether there are polyps inside the uterus, at the least, I'd ask for a sonohystergram before heading off for likely a full anesthesia.  A D&C and abalation requires anesthetic and an O.R. as a day patient (in and out the same day).  Before I'd head that route, I'd have the sononhysterogram done first to see IF there is reason to go in there and do something more invasive.  

A sonohysterogram is a specialized ultrasound.  Like a vaginal ultrasound, your doc will insert a speculum like for a pap and insert a tiny,very thin tube into the uterus and infuse a very small portion of saline solution (a few ml's is all that's required).  There's very little, if any discomfort to it.  At most, you'll feel a slight pinch (much like a pap when they take the sample) and when the infuse the saline (through the tube with a syringe at the end of the tubing), you MAY feel a little bit of crampiness like a mild period cramping.  They then, insert the wand like a vaginal ultrasound and take the picutres like a regular ultrasound.  When the pictures are done, they quickly remove the thin tubing and you sit up and go home right away...no anesthesia or anything needed.  You'll likely be instructed to take 2 advil about an hour before the test just to prevent much cramping during and afterwards and you may have a bit of a crampy feeling for a few hours after and a bit of very light spotting...nothing much.  For me...I didn't feel anything more than I feel during a regular pap.  It was actually really pain-free.  I did have a slightly crampy feeling later that night but, a couple more Advil and I was fine and carrying on with my day and evening as usual with no restrictions afterwards as to what you can or can't do.  I did take it easier that night and didn't exercise.  

Hope that this helps! :)

[ginali]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write me.  It sure helps and I have decided to wait a while to see if my period actually starts again.  I hate the thought of doing unnecessary procedures.  As long as my paps keep coming back normal I feel relieved.
thanks again