Minimizing patient and provider pain points in the treatment of menorrhagia

A study of women 40 years and older found that patients with menorrhagia had a significantly lower health-related quality of life compared to women with normal menstrual flow.¹ Beyond absolute blood loss, symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, mood change, and a perceived increase in menstrual bleeding are more frequently reported as severe problems by women with menorrhagia.² 

Research shows that for the majority of patients suffering from menorrhagia, the loss of daily activities or other quality-of-life factors are more important than actual volume of bleeding, and should therefore be considered in any treatment evaluation.² While traditional remedies focused on complete elimination of menstrual bleeding, more recent innovations offer an improved experience for patients and physicians alike by minimizing recovery and increasing procedure efficiency. 

Evaluating menorrhagia treatment in 2022

Medication is typically prescribed as a first-line treatment option for menorrhagia. Other treatment alternatives include intrauterine device (IUD) placement and global endometrial ablation (GEA).

Historically, after medication, a common treatment option for heavy menstrual bleeding was hysterectomy. While effective in eliminating bleeding, hysterectomies are both costly and subject to complications. Recently, other alternatives, including IUD placement and GEA have become the preferred treatment of choice as they are much less invasive and result in high patient satisfaction. However, these alternatives may still lead to hysterectomy.

Limitations Specific to GEA

While GEA is less invasive and maintains the uterus, long-term studies³ have found that the costs of ablative surgery are not dissimilar from the costs of hysterectomy due to the frequency of repeat procedures. Additional administrative and clinical limitations of heat-based endometrial ablation can include the use of general anesthesia or IV sedation and the required purchase of capital equipment, along with the potential for future patient complications such as intrauterine synechiae/adhesions or cyclic pelvic pain due to post-ablation syndrome. Inability to access the uterine cavity for future intervention, such as endometrial biopsy, present an additional concern for both providers and patients. 

Innovations with Endometrial Cryoablation

The Cerene® Cryotherapy Device is FDA-approved for endometrial cryoablation. It can significantly reduce both menstrual bleeding as well as dysmenorrhea, while improving quality of life and minimizing key pain points for both patients and gynecologists. 

Cerene is a self-contained, single-use, hand-held device that uses cryothermic (freezing) energy to ablate the endometrial lining. The use of cryotherapy results in a unique healing profile that can preserve access to the uterine cavity for future diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

For patients, Cerene provides a convenient, well-tolerated and effective option without the anxiety of traditional, more painful procedures that require general anesthesia with longer recovery times. Most patients return to normal activities within 24 hours. Those benefits ultimately result in high patient satisfaction. 

For physicians, Cerene offers an efficient in-office solution with no general anesthesia or capital equipment required, while also providing flexibility for use in a traditional OR setting based on provider preference. 

The product’s in-office treatment option integrates into practice routines with no disruption or added capital equipment costs, decreasing administrative burdens and allowing physicians to spend more time treating patients. 

Learn more about Cerene and discover if it’s a viable treatment option for your patients.

Sources: 

1. https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aogs.12292
2. Warner PE, Critchley HO, Lumsden MA, Campbell-Brown M, Douglas A, Murray GD. Menorrhagia II: is the 80-mL blood loss criterion useful in management of complaint of menorrhagia?. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004;190:1224-9.
3. Lethaby A, Hickey M, Garry R. Endometrial destruction techniques for heavy menstrual bleeding. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005(4):CD001501.

Important Safety Information

Cerene® Cryotherapy Device is indicated to ablate the endometrial lining of the uterus in premenopausal women with heavy menstrual bleeding due to benign causes for whom childbearing is complete. Pregnancy following the Cerene procedure can be dangerous; therefore, contraception must be used until menopause. The Cerene procedure is not for those who have or suspect uterine cancer; have an active genital, urinary or pelvic infection; or an IUD. There are risks and considerations associated with the use of the Cerene Cryotherapy Device. Temporary side effects may include uterine cramping, vaginal infection, and lightheadedness. For detailed benefit and risk information, consult the Cerene Instructions for Use (IFU) or your healthcare professional. Learn more >