A delivery vehicle for a silver ion source such as silver nitrate and thelike, suitable for use in the treatment of menorrhagia, comprises a pluralityof physiologically inert beads bearing a tissue cauterizing amount of a silverion source. Preferably the beads are made of a physiologically inert polymer,ceramic or stainless steel. The silver ion source preferably is silver nitrateand can be substantially pure silver nitrate, or can comprise silver nitratein combination with a physiologically tolerable binder or a diluent. Suitablebinders include physiologically tolerable synthetic polymeric binders,polysaccharide binders, and the like. Diluents can include other saltmaterials such as potassium nitrate. The beads are useful in treatingmenorrhagia of a mammalian uterus. The beads can be delivered to the uterusvia a catheter, and are distributed throughout the uterine cavity by uterinemassage or like expedient. Silver ions are delivered to the endometrium andcause necrosis of the endometrial tissue. The silver ions remaining within theuterine cavity can then be neutralized with a sodium chloride solutiondelivered to the uterus e.g., by catheter, and the beads recovered from theuterus.
