Is Hydrothermal Ablation Right for You?

Heavy menstrual bleeding is an issue that affects many women. While it is difficult to accurately determine how much blood a woman loses each month during her menstrual cycle, there are certain things that a doctor will consider problematic. If you have to change your pad or tampon every hour, if you are leaking blood through your pad or tampon or consistently wake up with blood on your sheets, your doctor will most likely qualify that as heavy menstrual bleeding. This issue can cause problems with low iron, and it can easily embarrass women who experience leaking through their clothes. Hydrothermal ablation is a procedure that provides long-term relief for women with excessive menstrual bleeding.

Hydrothermal ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that involves inserting a small probe into the uterus and flushing the uterine cavity with heated water to destroy most or all of the endometrium. Hormones control the menstrual cycle, helping prepare the woman’s body for a possible pregnancy each month. Each month, the uterine lining, called the endometrium, will thicken. If a pregnancy does not occur, hormone levels will decrease, and the body will shed the endometrium, producing the bleeding known as the menstrual period.

In order to prevent excessive bleeding, hydrothermal ablation can be done to greatly decrease the endometrium to minimize the flow of blood each month. Hydrothermal ablation is an out-patient procedure that is generally performed in a physician’s office under local anesthesia. It can also be performed in a surgical suite using a general anesthetic. The procedure is relatively quick, taking about 30 minutes. Most women are able to return to their normal activities within 48 hours, making it beneficial to women in the workforce or those who have a very active schedule.

If you are suffering from heavy menstrual cycles that interfere with your life, you may be a good candidate for hydrothermal ablation. At Marietta OB/GYN Affiliates, P.A., we are here for you. We offer compassionate care to women and deliver personalized treatment. Contact our practice today.