Patients may experience frequent urination for the first day after the procedure and blood-tinged, watery vaginal discharge for more than a month. It takes about three months to determine whether the procedure has been effective. There should be a follow-up appointment about two weeks after the procedure. A probe in the balloon heats the fluid to destroy the endometrial lining. After eight minutes the fluid is drained out and the balloon is removed.
Pregnancy is possible if some of the lining is maintained, but generally infertility is the result.
Comparing Hysterectomy with Endometrial Ablation. In one study comparing hysterectomy with two endometrial ablation procedures, ablation was, in general, less invasive, had fewer and less serious complications, and was less costly than a hysterectomy, especially for patients with very heavy bleeding. The most common reasons for additional surgeries include the presence of submucous fibroids, continued abnormal bleeding, or severe pelvic pain. The size of the uterus did not seem to make much difference. One further concern with ablation treatment is that it alters the uterine lining and may make early detection of uterine cancer difficult.