Retrospective study on the outcomes and satisfaction with endometrial ablation by bipolar energy (NovaSure®) for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding

Purpose

To determine the effectiveness, safety, and participant satisfaction with endometrial ablation by bipolar energy (NovaSure^®) in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), and to investigate factors associated with poorer outcomes.

Methods

Multicenter retrospective observational study based on medical record review of the outcomes related to endometrial ablation by the bipolar-energy technique procedure to treat HMB in the setting of three university teaching hospitals in Spain.

Results

A total of 333 women were included in the study. Most bipolar-energy ablations were successful (85.12%; n = 269 out of 316), with amenorrhea the most frequent outcome (39.6%, n = 131 out of 316). The majority of participants had no complications (95.5%; n = 317 out of 332), and of those who did, only 2.1% were related to the technique. No further treatment was required for HMB in 82.8% of women (n = 274 out of 331), and surgery was avoided in 91.8%; only 5.9% of women underwent ablation-related hysterectomy. In women with previous transverse cesarean sections (CS), 91.0% avoided subsequent surgical treatment. Eighty-six percent of women (n = 221 out of 257) were satisfied with the procedure.

Conclusion

Bipolar-energy ablation is very effective and safe for the treatment of HMB and yielded a high rate of participant satisfaction in our setting. The presence of comorbidities or previous CS may slightly reduce the effectiveness of the method, while performing concomitant surgery (mainly curettage) increases the rate of complications. Notably, despite the known increased risk of hysterectomy, most participants with previous CSs who underwent ablation avoided major surgery.