Endometrial ablation with fibroids?

March 23, 2004

Hi,

I figure since I posted about the NYC Meetup, I should probably post about

my condition. I'm sitting at home, taking my fourth sick day due to heavy

menstrual bleeding! I'm taking iron supplements and trying to decide what

type of surgical procedure to have. I'm 42, don't have children, and my most

problematic fibroid is about five by six centimeters, mostly within the uterine

wall, but with about one-fourth of it jutting into the cavity -- hence the heavy

periods!

I'm pretty sure I don't want UAE -- I don't think enough long-term studies

have been done for me to feel comfortable introducing a blockage into my

cardiovascular system. My gynecologist referred me to a reproductive

endocrinologist who wants to do a hysteroscopic resection of the exposed

fibroid combined with endometrial ablation. My question is, will this work to

stop the heavy bleeding? Won't the remaining three-quarters of the fibroid be

a problem? My other problem is with this doctor himself. He told me he would

do an abdominal myomectomy on me ONLY IF I agreed to become an

infertility patient immediately because " There's absolutely no way a woman

your age can get pregnant without a donor egg. " (!!!) I got a second opinion

from another doctor with whom I felt completely comfortable, but he is not in-

network on my insurance, and I can't afford to pay out-of-pocket for the

surgery. If anyone can recommend a specialist in NYC, I would be very

grateful.

Thanks,

Amy

March 23, 2004

Amy, while uterine fibroid embolization is relatively new (about 12

years, I think), the procedure of embolization has been done since

the 1960s. The first procedure was done to treat a cerebral

arteriovenous malformation. In fact, there's been quite a lot of

research done on embolization and today it's used also as a treatment

for liver cancers, among other uses.

I'm not trying to talk you into an embolization, just to say that it

actually has quite a long track record. Uterine artery embolization

is actually the same procedure that was used over 20 years ago to

stop post-partum bleeding. It's just its use to treat fibroids that

is relatively new.

Leonie

>

> I'm pretty sure I don't want UAE -- I don't think enough long-

term studies have been done for me to feel comfortable introducing a

blockage into my cardiovascular system.

March 23, 2004

Hi,

My friend had her second child at 43 with no donor egg. She had her 1st at 41.

It can be done.

Only doing a myo if you agree to the donor program sounds like extortion. What a

creep. They don't recommend ablation to control bleeding with fibroids. Yes, the

fibroid could cause future problems if some is left. You need a myo and to have

ALL the fibroid removed. I'll ask about a doc in NYC. JenD was your age and had

her myo in NYC if I'm not mistaken.

You need a good myo doc.

Ku

ginasamsa samsa22@...> wrote:

I'm 42, don't have children, and my most

problematic fibroid is about five by six centimeters, mostly within the uterine

wall, but with about one-fourth of it jutting into the cavity -- hence the heavy

periods!

My gynecologist referred me to a reproductive