Uterine balloon therapy for menorrhagia: a feasibility study of its use in the community setting.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether uterine balloon therapy (UBT) for menorrhagia can be performed safely in the community setting, obviating the need for hospital admission or general anaesthesia. DESIGN Prospective case studies of 20 women undergoing Thermachoice endometrial ablation for menorrhagia. SETTING Glasgow Centre for Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust, Glasgow, UK. PARTICIPANTS Twenty women with menorrhagia unresponsive to medical therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Pain levels experienced by women during the procedure, measured by visual analogue scores and analgesia requirements postoperatively. RESULTS Pain scores were in the range 0.1-6.6 (median 1.1) for outpatient hysteroscopy, compared to 0.1-9.8 (median 4.0) for uterine balloon therapy. No procedure was abandoned due to pain. CONCLUSION UBT performed under local anaesthetic is tolerated well by patients. It is an effective treatment for menorrhagia, which is safe and easy to perform in the community setting.