Endometrial ablation for DUB. Any thoughts?

Hi everyone.  Thanks for all your advice.  I just had an endometrial bx. last week and like I posted before and it showed eosinophilic metaplasia.  It's a benign process but it means that the cells of the uterus changed from one type to another (still not hyperplasia).  As I mentioned before I've had on and off DUB for about two years now because of my annovulatory cycles.  My GYN prior to bx. was stating that he feels an endometrial ablation will stop my bleeding.  I'm concerned because what I've read it can also mask endometrial cancer which I am at higher risk to get because of my family hx., obesity, insulin resistant, unnoposed estrogen production, fertility and ovulatory issues.  I think that I have PCOS and was never diagnosed because I never had the cysts that go along with PCOS.  I've been on BCP's and they don't seem to work anymore.  I bleed when I'm not supposed to.  Has anyone experienced that with BCP pills.  Has anyone out there had an endometrial ablation and if so is it something that you would recommend for someone with my DUB problem?  Can a D&C stop dysfunctional bleeding if its caused by a hormonal imbalance.  Don't produce enough progesterone to have a normal period so I have disordered endometrial bleeding.  I still have to do another sonogram with saline infusion to see if there are any abnormalities causing the bleeding then I guess my GYN will make recommendations as to what I should do.  Any advice will be welcomed.  Thanks.  Anna

[winemaker]

Anna,

My heart goes out to you! I suffered DUB for a year (bled every day). I had an EA 2 years ago and couldn't be happier about it. I don't bleed... at all! I have to follow monthly vaginal secretions to know where I am in my cycle.

The D&C will NOT help to treat DUB! You might get relief for a month or two, but then back to where you were before. Also, I tried a Mirena IUD as a hormonal treatment. No hellp at all.

The EA was easy, recovery easy. You will need to be serious about birth control, however, as it is considered dangerous to get pregnant and you still can afterward. I went ahaed and got the tubal at the time of my EA.

There is a great forum on just this topic on ezboards.com. Just look up "endometrial ablation". If that gets you nowhere, do a google search on "endometrial ablation board". The ladies there are VERY helpful, knowledgeable and supportive (konda like this place! ;)

Cathy

[Domino Effect]

I was to have an EA, but needed hyst instead.  My understanding is that the EA is usually quite effective, but bleeding can still occur or re-occur if it does not take on you.  You should be very careful about what you consider given your diabetes, insulin dependency and obesity.  My opinion would be to get a second one and also speak very frankly with your diabetic provider and maybe even a coference call between your docs and you.

I have known many women to have an EA and have had great success with it.  As winemaker indicated about the tubal ligation, this is a very wise move w/ the EA.

Good luck to you and I hope I was able to help.  

Another good forum is hyster sisters.  They are great with all the info on EA, TAH, TVH, Salpingo's w/ or w/o oopherectomies, etc...  all surgeries having to do with female reproductive organs.

[MickeyVicki]

I had an endometrial ablation in March.  It resulted from the discovery of uterine polyps, which were found when I had a TVU for symptoms of an ovarian cyst.    The polyps needed removal for biopsy, as these were my first known uterine polyps and followed the discovery of endometriosis at the time of surgery to remove an ovary/fallopian tube/large endometrioma.  My doctor suggested the ablation, and I took the offer, as I knew that simply having  a D&C would not provide any lasting changes.

Am I ever pleased with the results.  My periods are mere drops, more like tinting in the normal discharge than a true period.  But the most surprising effect has been the cessation of PMS.  Unlike my "previous life" as I have started calling it, the days before the start of my cycles were filled with light bloating and mild cramping.  Now, if I did not check a calendar or see the spots on my panty liner, then I would not know that I have started my cycle.   It feels to me as if removing that thick uterine lining removed my excess estrogen.

Anyway, my polyps were endometrial hyperplasia - benign endometrial hyperplasia.