Endocrine Abstracts

Study objective: To evaluate the long term outcomes of menorrhagia treated by microwave endometrial ablation(MEA) as well as the factors which influence the outcomes.

Design: Prospective, single-arm study.

Setting: GuangDong Women’s and Children’s Hospital, GuangDong, China.

Patients: Three thirty four women with menorrhagia were selected for MEA, the age of these patients ranged from 29 to 59 years.

Interventions: Endometrial ablation using microwave endometial ablation.

Measurements and main results: All the patients were followed up, the change of menstrual cycle, the amount of flow, and complication of the procedure were recorded. 53 women underwent outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopy, the biopsy tissue was taken from the endometrium of these patients for histopathological examination. The mean duration of follow-up was 64.7 months (3–115 months). Overall effective rate was 91.3% (305/334), in which amenorrhea rate was 49.7% (166/334),menstruation reduction rate was 41.6% (139/334); 71.1% (140/197)of the cases who previously had dysmenorrheal had relieved their pain and the satisfaction rate was 91.9% (307/334); 42 cases required subsequent treatment as a result of recurrence, of which 9 cases were given repeat MEA and 33 cases underwent hysterectomy. A completely destroyed endometrium was seen after MEA by hysteroscopy, pathologic effects of MEA showed two zones of necrotic tissue.

Conclusions: MEA is characterized by simplicity of its performance, marked effectiveness and fewer complications, holding especially for patients complicated with severe diseases. Incomplete removal of endometrium was the important factor in reducing the effiency, young age and adenomyosis showed significant increased risk of treatment failure.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.