Women who are suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding, or periods that are painful and last longer than normal may have the option of choosing a uterine ablation over a hysterectomy.
A Uterine ablation may also be chosen to treat uterine fibroids.
During a uterine ablation, the inner lining of the uterus, or endometrium, is destroyed.
It is the endometrium that is shed during a woman’s menstrual period. If the endometrium is destroyed, then menstrual bleeding may cease all together, or a woman’s periods may return.
Generally, the older a woman is when she has a uterine ablation, the less likely it is that any bleeding will recur.
One of the biggest advantages to choosing an ablation over a hysterectomy is that an ablation is a much less involved procedure.
It can be performed on an outpatient basis, and recovery is generally much quicker than recovering from a hysterectomy.
There are some conditions for which a uterine ablation is not appropriate and there are some risks to having the procedure. Your doctor can tell you if the procedure is appropriate for you and if the procedure would pose special risks for you beyond the generally known risks.
One thing you should know is that a uterine ablation will interfere with your fertility, so it is not a procedure you should choose if you wish to have children in the future.
I had the procedure done approximately 6 or 7 years ago… it was the best decision my doctor could have ever given me… I have read posts on here about having male doctors that did not know anything, my situation was just the opposite!! I had been going to a female OB/GYN who had the nerve to tell me it was all in my head!!
I found a male doctor that actually sat and listened to me, ran tests, and gave me options to choose from including all the pro’s and con’s that went with each…
I have not had a period since, I had minor cramps for a couple of hours after the procedure and was back at work the next day…
I would recommend it to anyone!!