Endometrial Ablations

If you are in your late thirties or in your forties but have not yet entered Menopause and are experiencing heavy menstrual cycles or irregular uterine bleeding, you may be a good candidate for an Endometrial Ablation. An Endometrial Ablation is a Gynecologic procedure used to treat heavy or irregular uterine bleeding by destroying the lining of your uterus.

During this procedure, a doctor will insert small tools through your cervix and into your uterus.  No incisions are required. For Hydrothermal Ablation (HTA), a saline solution is circulated through the uterine cavity and gradually heated to destroy the uterine lining. Once the lining has been destroyed, the uterine cavity is flushed with cooled liquid and then the instruments are removed. The procedure takes around thirty minutes to complete and can be performed under either general or local anesthesia. Many advanced Gynecology practices offer this service as an in-office procedure using local anesthesia.

After the procedure, most women are able to resume normal activities within 48 hours. The most common side effect of HTA is cramping. Cramping after an HTA procedure can usually be treated easily using a common pain reliever.

In women who participated in FDA trials and reported their data after one year, 40% reported complete elimination of their period. Forty-two percent of women reported that their menstrual bleeding decreased to normal or lower levels.

Endometrial Ablation should not be used on women who may want to become pregnant in the future. Your Gynecologist can help determine if an Endometrial Ablation is right for you. Before prescribing an Endometrial Ablation, your physician will want to examine you and may want to perform some tests to make sure that your excessive uterine bleeding is from benign causes and not an indication of a more serious medical problem. If you are experiencing heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding and are not planning on becoming pregnant in the future, talk to your Gynecologist to see if you are a good candidate for this life-changing procedure.