Health status function after treatment with thermal balloon endometrial ablation and levonorgestrel intrauterine system for idiopathic menorrhagia: a randomized study.

Aim: To compare patients' health status function after treatment with thermal balloon endometrial ablation (TBEA) and levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) for idiopathic menorrhagia.

Methods: Forty-four patients were recruited into a randomized trial comparing their health status after treatment with TBEA or LNG-IUS for idiopathic menorrhagia.

Results: At 1 year follow-up, the mean haemoglobin was significantly higher in women treated with TBEA (12.6 g/dl vs. 10.3 g/dl, p = 0.018). Iron deficiency occurred in 13.3% from the TBEA arm and in 50% from the LNG-IUS arm (p = 0.026). The women's mean Short Form 36 Questionnaire general health perception scores (54.9 vs. 40.5, p = 0.024) and mental health scores (49.5 vs. 38.3, p = 0.021) in TBEA arm were significantly higher than in the LNG-IUS arm. The mental health domain score was also significantly lower in the LNG-IUS arm (46.1 vs. 38.3, p = 0.041).

Conclusion: TBEA appears to offer better health status function at 1 year follow-up and to be more acceptable to our Chinese population in the treatment of idiopathic menorrhagia following failed medical treatment.