Hysterectomy is the surgical elimination of the uterus, the womanly organ in which a fertilized egg develops into a fetus. The term is derived from the Greek roots hystera, meaning uterus, and ektome, meaning excision. The uterus may be removed for a number of reasons including the presence of cancer, hemorrhaging (excessive bleeding), a condition called prolapse in which the female reproductive organs descend down the birth canal, or the growth of noncancerous abnormal tissue masses called fibroid tumors. Approximately 700,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 33 percent of American women will have hysterectomies by the age of 60.
On the other hand, endometrial ablation is the removal or devastation of the endometrium (lining of the uterus). It does not require hospitalization, and most women return to normal activities in a day or two. Ablation is an alternative to hysterectomy for many women with heavy uterine bleeding who are wish to avoid major surgery. After a successful endometrial ablation, most women will have little or no menstrual bleeding. Patient selection and physician experience is essential to a good outcome. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks, which should be compared to the risks of things we do in every day life. A number of things can be done to reduce these risks. Some of the risks of endometrial ablation procedures are perforation of the uterus, absorbing excess fluid, bleeding, infection, and injury to organs within the abdomen and pelvis, and accumulation of blood within the uterus due to scarring. Another rare, but important, concern after any endometrial ablation procedure is that it might decrease your doctor's ability to make an early diagnosis of cancer of the endometrium. Abnormal bleeding should be evaluated whether or not you have had an ablation.(Dr. Stanley West, 1994)
