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Endometrial Ablation & Pregnancy: Understanding Fertility After Procedure


Question
Why doesn't the ablation work? and how thick does the endometrium have to be in order to sustain a pregnancy?-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I am no longer on birth control pills. I just had a miscarriage at 7 weeks in october. If the uterine lining was destroyed, would the pregnancy have lasted up to 7 weeks, or would the embryo abort during the implantation phase?-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I am 41 yrs old, and have 1 live birth and a total of 4 pregnancies. I had an endometrial ablation 4 years ago., the procedure failed to reduce the length of my period, and the heavy bleeding was only slightly reduced. I was placed on oral contraceptives to control my periods after the procedure was done. Prior to the procedure I was not given any hormones to help thin out the endometrium. the procedure was a baloon plasty. I was wondering if the endometrium lining can regrow., and can a viable pregnancy occur after the ablation. I am very regular every 28 days., and my lmp nov 17/2005
Answer -
If you had an ablation, and it was successful in cauterizing the endometrial lining, it is doubtful that an embryo can implant on the wall of the uterus. You can, indeed, conceive  but implantation cannot occur and you would not be able to maintain the pregnancy. You claim that you still get your period. If so, then the ablation did not work and the wall of the uterus can probably still allow for implantation. If your last period started on November 17, then you are due for your next period on December 14. If you do not get your period by December 21, take a pregnancy test and you will know for sure. If you are still on birth control pills, it is highly unlikely that you could conceive since pills are 99.9% effective against becoming pregnant.
Answer -
If the ablation was complete and compelte cauterized the uterine lining, you would not have had implantation and the pregnancy would not have reached 7 weeks gestation. However if there are any areas of the endometrium that were not cauterized during the ablation procedure, you can, indeed, have implantation.  

Answer
Depending on the type of ablation procedure you had, the results can be "patchy" and allow for growth of the endometrium. It does not require too much thickness of the endometrium to sustain a pregnancy, and, as the pregnancy progresses, the endometrium can get thicker and thicker (from the action of estrogen). If there is adequate endometrium and hormones (estrogen and progesterone) you can carry a pregnancy.