ABSTRACT
Heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the most common complaints presenting to practitioners in women’s health. It is thought that 9-30% of women of reproductive age suffer from menorrhagia [1]. Menorrhagia causes 5% of British women aged 30-49 years to consult a family practitioner every year and comprises about 15% of referrals to gynaecologists. Excessive heavy bleeding can result in absence from the work force, limitations and restrictions in physical and social activities, personal embarrassment, and medical conditions such as pain, anaemia, and chronic fatigue. The choice of optimal therapy for women is still evolving. First-line treatment consists of traditional medical therapies with hormonal suppression of endogenous control. Frequently, medical therapy does not provide adequate long-term relief and may not be tolerated as a result of adverse effects and risks. When medical therapy fails, surgical therapy may be in the form of curettage or hysterectomy. Curettage is a notoriously poor long-term solution and has been shown to be merely temporizing; it is more of a diagnostic or investigative procedure. Hysterectomy is exceedingly effective and is the only true manner with which to cure patients of the ailments of uterine bleeding. However, the risks of major surgery, prolonged convalescence, missed work days, health-care costs, and concerns about effects on sexual activity have played a role in the development of alternative treatments [2].The method of endometrial ablation was developed to serve as another option.
