Alternatives to hysterectomy for the treatment of excessive uterine bleeding.

Abnormal uterine bleeding is a common gynaecological problem that traditionally has been treated with hysterectomy. However, there are many other conservative treatment modalities that should be considered before hysterectomy. Medical therapies are effective in most cases. Endometrial ablation may be an effective surgical alternative to hysterectomy. This article reviews and updates the diagnostic concepts and management options for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding. The authors present a review of the pertinent literature and describe their experience with the latest balloon device for endometrial ablation therapy.