Eliminate heavy bleeding with endometrial ablation
If you suffer from problems of the uterus, including excessive bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, fibroids, uterine prolapse, or endometrial cancer, you may think your only choice is to have a hysterectomy. Yet totally removing the uterus isn’t always necessary. Main Line Health offers endometrial ablation as an alternative to hysterectomy for women who suffer from common uterine problems.
Endometrial ablation is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that can help end excessive uterine bleeding and other problems linked to endometriosis. During ablation, the lining of the uterus, called endometrium, disintegrates. This helps reduce or remove heavy bleeding from your menstrual flow.
A quick procedure with lasting effects
Endometrial ablation can be done using either heat or an electrically conducted gold-foil mesh. The process is very quick, lasting less than two minutes, and very safe.
If your doctor suggests endometrial ablation to help with your uterine condition, you’ll first be given a light general anesthetic or local cervical block. Next, your doctor will widen your cervix enough to provide an opening for the ablation tool. The tool may use may be either a heated, fluid-filled balloon; a wand delivering an infusion of heated water; or electrically conductive mesh. Once the treatment is finished, the tools are removed from your uterus.
Following endometrial ablation, you may go home in one to two hours. You might feel some minor discomfort for two to three days, similar to menstrual cramps. Most women’s symptoms improve remarkably after having endometrial ablation. Women who don’t improve after endometrial ablation can choose to have the treatment again, or they may choose hysterectomy.
