Are you tired of dealing with heavy periods? You’re not alone. More than 10 million American women struggle with heavy periods.
The good news? You have options.
At Westover Hills Women's Health, our team of expert providers offers endometrial ablation to reduce or stop heavy menstrual bleeding.
If you’re curious what this procedure involves — and how it can help ease heavy periods — then read on.
Endometrial ablation is a minimally invasive treatment that targets the lining of your uterus, called the endometrium.
The endometrium is the source of your period. It’s the lining that you shed each month during your period.
By destroying this lining with controlled energy, ablation reduces or eliminates bleeding. It’s often recommended when medications or an intrauterine device (IUD) hasn’t worked, and especially if you’re:
This quick outpatient procedure is done right in our San Antonio, Texas, office, and there’s no need for general anesthesia or a hospital stay.
Our team offers two proven methods for endometrial ablation: Minerva and NovaSure®. Both types of endometrial ablation work in a similar manner. They use heat to ablate your endometrium to stop heavy periods.
This method uses plasma energy to remove the endometrial lining. Plasma energy is a highly energized state of matter in which a gas becomes ionized.
We insert a small silicone device (called an array) into your uterus and deliver targeted energy for just 120 seconds. After the energy evenly ablates your endometrium, we remove the silicone array.
About 92% of women report lighter or normal periods, and as many as 72% of women experience complete amenorrhea within 12 months.
While Minera uses plasma energy, NovaSure uses radiofrequency energy, a type of electrical energy that generates heat.
During your procedure, we insert a mesh device that fits your uterus. Once the netting is in place, the device emits radiofrequency energy for about 90 seconds. After the tissue is ablated, we remove the wand and netting. The whole process takes about five minutes.
It’s quick and effective. Over 82% of women experienced significantly reduced or stopped bleeding and didn’t require any further treatment. Over 91% of the women who had NovaSure were able to avoid surgery.
Most women return home the same day and can resume normal activities within a day or two. Some cramping or light discharge is normal and should subside quickly.
Over 90% of women report normal or no bleeding following endometrial ablation. This means most women see a significant improvement in their symptoms, even if they don’t achieve complete amenorrhea.
Endometrial ablation isn’t for everyone, especially if you plan to become pregnant in the future, but it can be life-changing for those dealing with chronic heavy bleeding.
If you have heavy periods and still wish to grow your family, you’re not out of options. Our team may recommend other treatments — for example, fibroid removal if that’s the source of your heavy periods — in the meantime.
When left untreated, heavy periods are more than just a nuisance. They can lead to fatigue, anemia, and emotional stress.
Are you still wondering if endometrial ablation is right for you? Schedule a consultation with a member of our team to explore your options. Click here or call one of our San Antonio, Texas, locations to get started.
