What is it?
The procedure endometrial ablation is a performed by a doctor in order to treat excessive menstrual bleeding. It involves surgically destroying (abating) the uterus lining which will reduce problematic menstrual flow.
Your GPHW gynecologist may recommend an ablation if you have:
- Unusually heavy periods (having to change a pad or tampon every two hours or less)
- Bleeding that lasts longer than eight days
- Periods that impact your daily activities
- Anemia due to blood loss
What to Expect?
The doctor can perform endometrial ablation as an in-office procedure or as an out-patient procedure. The patient would decide the process with their provider.
The doctor begins by dilating (widening) the cervix to create a pathway for the operation tools to pass through. Once the process has begun, there are several procedures the doctor may perform based on circumstances or decisions made between the patient and the doctor. Once the procedure is complete, the patient can return to their normal activities the next day or within a few days.
In-office, minimally invasive ablation procedures
NovaSure and Mirena are radiofrequency devices: The doctor places a flexible device with a mesh tip into the uterus thus creating an electrical current, produced by a radio wave.
Hydroablation: The doctor injects free-flowing hot-fluid into the uterine cavity and destroys the weak lining. This process treats irregularly shaped or enlarged uterine cavities.
Cryoablation: The doctor creates an environment of sub-zero temperatures to destroy the uterine lining (endometrium) and halt excessive blood flow.
NovaSure and Mirena are the preferred methods of ablation, but certain circumstances may require one of the other methods to be used.