title: Effect of endometrial ablation on premenstrual symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of endometrial ablation on 6 premenstrual symptoms for up to 1 year after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort of 59 women awaiting endometrial ablation (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).
  
  
  METHODS
  University tertiary care hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women underwent endometrial ablation using the microwave, impedance-controlled, or rollerball technique.
  
  
  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 < .025) up to 1 year after endometrial ablation. The greatest improvement was seen in swelling/bloating, with mean decreases of 4.1 on a scale of 10 at the 4-month follow-up and 3.1 at the 12-month follow-up. Women who reported the most severe symptoms before surgery appeared to have greater improvement compared with women with milder symptoms. Significant improvements were nevertheless observed in the mild severity subgroup for 4 of the 6 symptoms studied (i.e., irritability, depression, swelling/bloating, and breast tenderness).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. Electronic address: Guy.Waddell@USherbrooke.ca.
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: Waddell
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors: Joannie
authors: J
authors: Pelletier
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Desindes
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Anku-Bertholet
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Blouin
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Thibodeau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055356:Endometrial Ablation Techniques; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Endometrial ablation; Heavy menstrual bleeding; Premenstrual symptoms