Cohort study, 2009
Does treating heavy periods with endometrial ablation help period pain and premenstrual mood symptoms?
Yes. When women had endometrial ablation (a procedure that reduces menstrual bleeding), both period pain and premenstrual mood symptoms like irritability and depression improved over 3 and 6 months.
What they did
Prospective cohort study of 148 women with heavy menstrual bleeding who underwent Thermachoice III endometrial ablation (a procedure that burns the uterine lining) performed in an office under local anesthesia. They were followed at 3 and 6 months after the procedure.
What they found
At 3 and 6 months, 52% had no periods and 48% had lighter periods. Of 79 women who had period pain at baseline, pain improved at both 3 and 6 months (p<0.005). Premenstrual mood symptoms (agitation, irritability, and depression) also improved at both 3 and 6 months.
What it means for you
Reducing menstrual bleeding through this surgical procedure may help both period pain and premenstrual mood symptoms. However, endometrial ablation is a surgical procedure with risks. The study had no comparison group and did not compare it to other treatments. Specific numbers for mood improvement are not provided. This procedure is meant for heavy periods, not specifically for PMDD.
148
Women treated
52%
Became amenorrheic
79
With period pain who improved
About the study
- Original title
- In-office endometrial ablation and clinical correlation of reduced menstrual blood loss and effects on dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptomatology
- Authors
- Chapa HO, Venegas G, Antonetti AG et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of reproductive medicine
- Year
- 2009
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 148
- What was tested
- Thermachoice III endometrial ablation procedure
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19438165/
Topics
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