Success rate, quality of life, and descriptive analysis after generalized endometrial ablation in an obese population.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the success rate of and the quality of life after global endometrial ablation in an obese population.

METHODS

A follow-up survey was mailed to 72 women who had undergone global endometrial ablation. The survey included a menorrhagia-specific NovaSure endometrial ablation questionnaire. The mean follow-up time was 2.5years.

RESULTS

Forty-four women (61%) responded, with a mean body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) of 30.5. Overall, patients reported a decrease in missed social activities, in inability to perform activities of daily living, in missed work days, in bleeding tendencies, and in pain. The amenorrhea rate was 37%, and the success rate (those not requiring any further therapeutic treatment) was 86%. Patient satisfaction was 93%.

CONCLUSIONS

Global endometrial ablation improved quality of life for obese women with menorrhagia and had a high rate of satisfaction, even for patients not achieving amenorrhea. Patients with a BMI of more than 34 showed a trend toward failure and a higher rate of hysterectomy.