Hysterectomy and Endometrial Ablation Compared

Objectives:

To determine women's preference towards Thermachoice being performed either awake in the outpatient setting or under general anaesthetic (GA) as a day case.

Design:

Questionnaire. Setting Large teaching hospital. POPULATION: One hundred women.

Methods:

The questionnaire was developed from prior research on factors associated with preference for procedures performed in the outpatient versus day case setting.

Main Outcome Measures:

(1) Describe women's preference towards outpatient versus day case Thermachoice and other menorrhagia treatments. (2) Identify variations in preference by demographic characteristics and prior experience of anaesthesia. Results There was an exact split in preference with 50% preferring Thermachoice as an outpatient and 50% as a day case. The mean age of women preferring outpatient Thermachoice was significantly higher (41.5 years) than those preferring day case (33.5 years) (P < 0.005). Women with children and a higher qualification were more likely to opt for outpatient Thermachoice. A previous bad experience of GA was associated with preference for outpatient Thermachoice. Spending less time in hospital, attending for one visit, feeling well straight after treatment and choosing the treatment setting were important factors to the majority of women. Most women (70%) who opted for Thermachoice as a menorrhagia treatment would prefer to have it performed in the outpatient setting.

Conclusions:

If the Department of Heath is to target services towards women's choice, there is a need to increase the provision of outpatient menorrhagia treatments, such as Thermachoice, to more women in the UK.

Please click on the required question.

• 1 Are heavy periods a common problem?
• 2 What is in my menstrual flow?
• 3 What range of menstrual cycle length is considered to be normal?
• 4 How can menstrual blood loss be measured?
• 5 How can I tell if my periods are abnormally heavy?
• 6 What could be the cause of my very heavy menstrual periods?
• 7 I have been sterilised. Could this be the cause of my heavy periods?
• 8 Should I have tests to find the reason for my heavy periods?
• 9 How will my heavy period problems be investigated?
• 10 What is meant by anaemia due to heavy periods?
• 11 What is intermenstrual bleeding?
• 12 What is a hysteroscopy and D and C?
• 13 What is cervical cautery?
• 14 What happens after the D and C?
• 15 What treatments are available for my heavy periods?
• 16 What are the medical treatments available for heavy periods?
• 17 How do the various medical treatments for heavy periods work?
• 18 What would be reasonable initial treatment for a teenager or young woman with heavy periods?
• 19 What is a hysterectomy?
• 20 What are the indications for hysterectomy?
• 21 What are the risks (complications) of hysterectomy?
• 22 What is vault granulation?
• 23 What are the different types of hysterectomy?
• 24 Is it essential to remove the neck of the womb at hysterectomy?
• 25 Should my ovaries be removed or conserved during hysterectomy?
• 26 How long will I be in hospital when I have my hysterectomy?
• 27 I have had a hysterectomy. Do I still need to have smear tests?
• 28 What are the other surgical alternatives to hysterectomy?
• 29 How do endometrial ablation and hysterectomy compare?
• 30 Are there any psychological effects following hysterectomy?
• 31 How do we decide the best treatment for my period problems?
• 32 Could I have some recommended hysterectomy support groups?
• 33 Are there any support groups?
• Intermenstrual Bleeding - Bleeding between periods.

Thank you for choosing to visit us.

This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.

I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.