Hysterectomy Alternative Freezes Uterine Lining

'Her Option' Procedure Less Invasive

NEW YORK -- About 600,000 hysterectomies are done each year, and about one-third are due to excessive menstrual bleeding.

Now, a less invasive procedure for women is available to control that bleeding, without being forced into early menopause.

After the birth of her third -- and last -- child, Pam Kessler's menstrual periods became very heavy, often lasting 10 to 12 days.

"I was only suffering with it for about nine months or so," Kessler said. "By the second year, I was like 'This is enough. I'm tired of this. Let's do something.'"

Kessler could have tried hormone therapy, or even a hysterectomy, as thousands of other women do to control excessive bleeding. But Kessler wanted a less radical alternative.

Instead, Kessler chose a new technique called Her Option that uses cryogenics to literally destroy the uterine lining by freezing it.

"Now we can bring about permanent, or at least long-lasting reduction if not complete cessation of their menstrual flow," said Dr. Steve Domnitz. "So now, women who used to have their period lasting 10 days may not have any period at all for the rest of their reproductive years, and not have any other side effects other than losing their menstrual flow and losing the cramping that goes along with it."

Here's how it works: A probe is inserted vaginally through the cervix and into the uterine cavity. Then, the cooling process begins, which freezes tissue around the probe tip. The probe is warmed and cooled again, and the process is repeated. The total procedure takes about 20 minutes.

"The goal of course is to destroy the uterine lining as completely as possible," Domnitz said. "With the heating procedures that were available before, we didn't get as good long-term success because we were only able to destroy a limited thickness of the uterine [tissue]."

Pam was an ideal candidate -- she's premenopausal and doesn't plan on having any more children.

"Even if I ended up having a period that only lasts three to five days like some woman have, that's OK, too," Kessler said. "It's not 10 or 12 ... I'm very happy to have it done."

This procedure is best for premenopausal women who have completed child bearing -- not for women still planning on having children, as this procedure limits the ability to conceive after uterine lining is destroyed.

This procedure is not for anybody with fibroids or polyps or other abnormality within uterine cavity. The side effects include some cramping for a day or so, and some discharge for a few weeks, but overall, it's very tolerable.

Copyright 2002 by WSOCTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.