Endometrial Ablation
If you regularly experience heavy periods, you’re not alone. In the medical world, heavy menstrual bleeding is called menorrhagia, and it can be caused by a variety of factors, like hormonal imbalances, uterine fibroids or excessive endometrial lining.
If your menorrhagia is caused by excessive endometrial tissue and conservative treatments have failed to provide relief, the team at MetroPartners OBGYN may be able to help with a procedure called endometrial ablation. We take a closer look at the procedure and how it can help cure your heavy menstrual bleeding in today’s blog.
Understanding Endometrial Ablation
Endometrial ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that targets the root cause of your heavy bleeding, which is the abundance of endometrial lining in your uterus. Your body sheds this uterine lining each month during your period, and it stands to reason that excessive endometrial tissue could lead to a prolonged or heavy flow. To address this issue with the uterus, we rely on NovaSure radiofrequency ablation.
NovaSure is a trusted technique that uses radio waves to destroy areas of excessive endometrial tissue so that it doesn’t return in the future. The procedure can be performed in minutes and begins as the provider inserts a small and slender wand into the uterus through the cervix. The device is then turned on in order to deliver precise radiofrequency energy at specific areas of the uterus. These radio waves end up producing heat, in turn destroying the excess endometrial tissue. Eliminating the source of the heavy bleeding helps to provide long term relief from menorrhagia.
Your body works hard to repair the damaged uterine tissue after ablation treatment, but the process works because the body replaces the original tissue with scar tissue. This scar tissue is not conducive to the growth of new blood vessels, which in turn significantly reduces or eliminates excessive menstrual bleeding.
Because the procedure alters the structure of the uterine lining, NovaSure radiofrequency ablation is only recommended for women who have made the choice to be done having kids. The procedure will not prevent you from getting pregnant, but pregnancy after NovaSure treatment can have additional risks for the mother and unborn child, so it is important that you take preventative measures to avoid becoming pregnant after radiofrequency ablation.
For many women, endometrial ablation is a less invasive alternative to a hysterectomy to control and alleviate heavy menstrual bleeding. The vast majority of women say they are satisfied with the results, and it can help them reach new levels of comfort each month.