Talk:Endometrial ablation

Common side effects
Thank you for a well-organized reader friendly format. If I may suggest, adding a section for more common side effects to articles about medical procedures and treatments gives readers valuable information needed to make a more informed decision. Sometimes those little annoyances are more uncomfortable than one may want to risk living with. If possible, also provide a link to sites or other articles that describe self-help remedies she can try before returning to her physician.

Specifically, I am searching for information on three recurring side effects since having the procedure in 2003 whereby a balloon was introduced and filled with fluid that was heated. First, there is a frequent rash that is not helped with creams or powders. Second, there is tearing and shedding of the epidermis in a triangular area across the abdomen and downward toward the creases at the legs. Shedding is like that of a sunburn peeling. Third, skin irritation caused by an otherwise seemingly normal discharge.

What these symptoms have in common is that they appear to occur immediately preceding and during the regular menstrual cycle regardless of how little-to-no bleeding there is; they are accompanied by a burning sensation on the epidermis in that area; and they did not occur before the procedure was performed. What is unknown is whether these symptoms are experienced by women regardless of their size and shape or may be most common in overweight and obese individuals. Tech120 19:24, 16 July 2008 (UTC)

Update July 2013: I still have found no first person accounts of these side effects nor any remedies. However, since having a repeat procedure done in 2008, I did discover a couple of helpful products and techniques to better manage them. I hope this helps others as well.

Prevention of these rashes requires daily cleansing of the area using an anti-bacterial body wash. Anti-bacterial bar soap was not as effective. Thorough dry, preferably using a dryer on a low heat setting. Once a week, also cleanse the area using FungaSoap from PediFix, Inc. Dry skin and let it air out. You might think applying a powder would help when in fact it often becomes an abrasive irritant as it absorbs the body's moisture and rubs against the skin during movement. If you apply any, try doing so only at night while sleeping and remove it upon rising.

Avoid going commando even around the house and prolonged periods of sitting. Snug fitting underwear helps minimize the incubation of a rash by supporting the skin during movement. However, the opposite is true of tight fitting clothing worn at the hips and thighs. Sleeping commando does seem to help if no rash is present.

Once the painful flare up begins, immediately clean the area. Do not hesitate. Apply a moderate film of FungaSoap as you would lotion but do not rinse. Ignor the brief burning sensation if there is any-it will soon pass. Let it dry. Apply a moderate amount of a high quality, micro-fine, medicated powder such as Monistat or Zeabsorb. Put on clean underwear. Clean and redress the area every four hours or as soon as possible beyond that interval. This often gets it under control within a day. Should a persistent rash spread and linger, it can be helpful to apply a thin film of an anti-bacterial anti-perspirant to the cleansed area before applying any powder. Repeat every four to five hours until healing begins. Probably you should see a doctor if it persists or worsens longer than three days, but I have managed some for more than a week.Tech120 08:40, 23 July 2013 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tech120 (talk • contribs)

Might I propose we remove this personal anecdote which includes explicit medical advice? DHCopeland (talk) 15:16, 14 December 2016 (UTC)

technical details
the article actually says not one word about the actual procedure — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.186.86.53 (talk) 01:07, 16 March 2016 (UTC)

I've added some edits about technical aspects of the procedure and a more descriptive image. I also updated the complications sections to what's listed in the current medical literature in order of frequency. Ahaq23 (talk) 18:47, 22 February 2023 (UTC)

Female genital mutilation
Is this considered to be a form of FGM?

FredrickDay2 (talk) 20:46, 20 July 2016 (UTC)

No. This is entirely separate from FGM. FGM is a quazi-surgical procedure to remove varying levels of the vulva and/or clitoris for religious or cultural reasons. FGM is typically performed on very young girls without their consent and rarely if ever by trained medical practitioners. Societies who perform the procedure do so, reportedly, to help "preserve a woman's virtue" and protect her marriage prospects. The procedure faces international condemnation as opponents feel the procedure is a barbaric form of abuse and oppression towards women with the goal of preventing a woman from experiencing any sexual pleasure.

In contrast, endometrial ablation is a surgical procedure performed by doctors to essentially kill the endometrium or inner layer of the uterus. This is the layer that grows and bleeds monthly with a woman's period. The endometrium is also necessary for a childbearing and women who undergo the procedure are rendered almost always sterile. The procedure is done with the adult woman's consent in order to treat gynecologic conditions that have excessive menstrual bleeding. I hope that answers your question. DHCopeland (talk) 15:00, 14 December 2016 (UTC)

"People with uteruses." So, biological women. Or: Women. Men do not have uteruses. One can identify as male, but is biologically still female. Except in a vanishingly rare case of chromosome/physiology mismatch, in which case endometriosis is almost impossible. This site is supposed to be about facts, not feelings. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.32.168.92 (talk) 06:26, 3 November 2021 (UTC)

External links modified (January 2018)
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Stop with the "people with uteruses"
We're talking about the female reproductive system. This is a medical article, not a sociology class. 2600:387:15:19:0:0:0:5 (talk) 06:15, 16 January 2022 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Wikipedia for the Medical Editor
— Assignment last updated by Pjp992 (talk) 01:31, 17 February 2023 (UTC)