Successful pregnancy after thermal balloon endometrial ablation

BACKGROUND: Thermal balloon ablation is as effective as other electrosurgical modalities used for endometrial ablation. Pregnancy rate after endometrial ablation is 0.24-0.68%. We report a near-term viable pregnancy after thermal balloon uterine ablation. CASE: Thermal balloon uterine endometrial ablation was performed on a 38-year-old woman with menorrhagia. She conceived 11 months after the operation and decided to continue the pregnancy. After 35 weeks of uneventful gestation, she spontaneously delivered a liveborn infant. CONCLUSION: Although rare, pregnancy after endometrial. ablation is possible. Obstetric complications, such as pathologic placental adherence and fetal demise due to a small, scarred uterine cavity, have been reported. This pregnancy went to 35 weeks without complication despite a three-chambered appearance of the uterus. (C) 2004 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.