I'm Nervous About Endometrial Ablation: What Can I Expect?

Menstruation is a natural occurrence for most women, typically beginning in the early teen years and lasting until middle age, pausing only during pregnancy. But while menstruation itself may be relatively predictable, the way your periods happen can vary a lot, especially as you near menopause.

Many women wind up with irregular periods and abnormal bleeding, with menstrual flow so heavy, it interferes with daily activities — even sleep. While hysterectomy was once the only solution for stopping heavy bleeding, today endometrial ablation provides a less invasive solution with a faster recovery process, too.

At OB/GYN Associates of Conroe, Richard Roberts, MD, helps women manage heavy periods and restore their quality of life. If endometrial ablation is in your future, here’s what you should know.

Endometrial ablation: Why it’s done

Menstruation happens when you shed your endometrium — the lining of your uterus. This shedding happens at the end of your menstrual cycle when pregnancy doesn’t occur. A normal period lasts about 5-7 days, with periods happening about every 28 days or so on average. 

Most women lose no more than five tablespoons of blood during their periods, but for women with heavy periods — a condition called menorrhagia — blood loss can be much more dramatic, increasing the risk of developing anemia and other medical problems. Heavy blood flow can interfere with daily activities, too — even sleep.

Menorrhagia typically occurs during perimenopause due to fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone. It can also be caused by uterine fibroids, noncancerous growths that form in the uterine tissue.

Years ago, the only “cure” for heavy bleeding was to have your uterus removed via hysterectomy. Today, endometrial ablation provides an alternative, using special techniques to remove the endometrium so it can no longer be shed. 

During and after endometrial ablation

Dr. Roberts uses the state-of-the-art NovaSure® system to perform endometrial ablation. This system uses radiofrequency energy to remove the uterine lining without the need for general anesthesia, incisions, or sutures.

Before your procedure, you lie down with your feet in the “stirrups” — similar to the beginning of a pelvic exam. We administer a sedative to relax you, along with a local anesthetic to prevent discomfort. 

Once you’re relaxed, Dr. Roberts uses a medicine to gently dilate your cervix, making it easier to access your uterus with the Novasure device. Next, he inserts the Novasure wand into your uterus through your vagina, deploying a special netting that’s used to distribute radiofrequency energy evenly across the surface of your endometrium. Energy emission lasts about 90 seconds, after which the wand and netting are removed.

Recovery time

After your ablation procedure, you spend a couple of hours in a recovery room before being discharged. You need to have someone drive you home afterward, and you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. 

It’s not uncommon to have some spotting and some mild cramping afterward, along with some light discharge for a week or so. Most women return to their regular activities within a day or two, but you should avoid intercourse during the initial stages of healing. Dr. Roberts provides you with complete aftercare instructions before you leave the office.

Resolving heavy blood flow

Menorrhagia can take a major toll on your health and well-being, limiting your daily activities and your sleep while increasing your risk of anemia. To learn more about endometrial ablation and how it can help relieve your heavy bleeding, call 936-756-7788 or book an appointment online with the team at OB/GYN Associates of Conroe in Conroe, Texas, today.