Concomitant laparoscopic surgery and hysteroscopic endometrial ablation for women with chronic pelvic pain and menorrhagia

From September 1993 to July 1995, 63 women (mean age 38 yrs, range 26-53 yrs, parity 0-7) with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and menorrhagia underwent outpatient laparoscopic surgery and endometrial ablation. Operating time ranged from 9 to 110 minutes (mean 52 min). Laparoscopic procedures included excision of endometriosis (26), adhesiolysis (17), electromyolysis (4), uterine suspension (6), and appendectomy (4). At 6 to 20 months' follow-up 63 women reported no pain (24, 38.1%), significant improvement of pain (25, 39.7%), no change in amount of pain (9, 14.3%), and an increase of pain (5, 7.9%). Six patients had repeat laparoscopy. After hysteroscopic endometrial rollerball ablation and resection, the same women reported amenorrhea (31, 49.2%), hypomenorrhea (26, 41.3%), eumenorrhea (3, 4.8%), and no change in menstrual bleeding (3, 4.8%). Two women had a repeat endometrial ablation and one had hysterectomy for menorrhagia and CPP. Concomitant laparoscopic surgery and endometrial ablation is an effective alternative to hysterectomy for women with CPP and menorrhagia.