Endometrial ablation in England—coming of age? An examination of hospital episode statistics 1989/1990 to 2004/2005

ObjectiveTo observe numbers and trends in endometrial ablation performed for heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in England.DesignExamination of National Health Service (NHS) Hospital Episode Statistics. Number of hysterectomies and endometrial ablation procedures performed each year from 1989/1990 to 2004/2005.ResultsHysteroscopic endometrial ablation peaked in 1992/1993 before falling significantly to a low in 1997/1998. Since then the total number of procedures has increased by 250% and of the 9701 endometrial ablations performed in 2004/2005 over half (5457) are now second-generation techniques.ConclusionsEndometrial ablation is now more common than hysterectomy for heavy menstrual bleeding and second-generation methods are now more commonly performed than hysteroscopic endometrial ablation. There is every indication that endometrial ablation will continue to increase in practice in England.