Endometrial cryotherapy

• a treatment option in the management of menorrhagia
  • a non-hysteroscopic procedure that uses cold temperatures to freeze and destroy the endometrium
  • can be performed under general, regional or local anaesthesia, although sometimes no anaesthesia is needed
  • a cryoprobe is inserted into the fundus of the uterus and cooled by perfusing it with either liquid nitrogen or a compressed gas mixture
    • tip of the probe is placed first in one cornu of the uterus and then in the other, to generate an iceball that destroys the endometrial tissue
    • each freeze cycle is followed by a heat (thaw) cycle, which allows the probe to be removed
    • additional freeze/thaw cycles may be required

Reference:

1. NICE (March 2006). Endometrial cryotherapy for menorrhagia