So many of us struggle to deal with menstrual cramps and increased bleeding. From the moment we get our period until the last day -- it can be a monthly issue that can make us feel like we're not getting the best out of our lives. Whether you have lots of cramps or pain, or your periods are so heavy you're finding yourself iron deficient each month, there comes a time where seeking help and advice from a doctor may be the best plan of action. When menstrual flow interferes with your everyday life, endometrial ablation can help you to cope better.
What Is Endometrial Ablation?
Mayo Clinic defines endometrial ablation as a medical procedure that surgically destroys a woman's uterine lining, with the goal of reducing menstrual flow. The procedure involves the doctor inserting very thin tools through a woman's vagina to reach her uterus. Depending on the kind of ablation the doctor does, the process can last 10 to 15 minutes.
The various methods of ablation include hydrothermal ablation, balloon therapy, high-energy radio waves, freezing, microwave energy, and the use of an electric current. The size and the condition of a woman's uterus determine which ablation method is appropriate.
What Is Endometrial Ablation Used For?
The physician might recommend endometrial ablation if a person experiences unusually heavy periods that cannot be controlled with medication. A heavy period is one that soaks a pad, or a tampon every two hours or less, and the bleeding continues for more than eight days.
While endometrial ablation is meant to help reduce menstrual flow, it may also stop the menstrual flow completely. Statistics by Women’s Health Concern shows that 10% of patients who have gone through the procedure stop menstruation completely. In another 70%, menstrual flow reduces successfully.
Important to note, endometrial ablation is a permanent procedure. Once a woman’s uterine lining is removed, the lining cannot grow back later. Consequently, a person may want to be sure that whether having the procedure is the best solution for her.
According to Healthline, it is imperative for a woman to comprehend her reproductive options before signing up to take the procedure. That’s because a woman may not be able to conceive or to carry a pregnancy to full-term once she undergoes the process. However, the reproductive organs remain in good condition even after the endometrial ablation.
With that said, a woman who intends to have children should choose to postpone having the procedure done on her. Moreover, the woman should consult an infertility specialist beforehand. The specialist can then test the egg to check whether it is of good quality. Alternatively, the woman can choose to freeze her eggs or her fertilized embryos before having the procedure.
However, if a woman in this situation is not considering the option of freezing her eggs, she can choose to use an egg donor and a surrogate, to conceive and carry the pregnancy. In general, doctors agree to perform the procedure on women who are not pregnant and do not intend to become pregnant. Endometrial ablation is also not for women who have experienced menstrual problems that are brought about by cancer.
Side Effects or Complications of Endometrial Ablation:
Endometrial ablation could have both short-term and long-term side effects. The short-term complications include:
Frequent urination
During the first 24 hours after endometrial ablation, a woman may pass urine more often than before the procedure was done. The Hers Foundation explains that endometrial ablation causes fluid overload and the perforation of the urinal bladder.
Cramping for several days
Endometrial ablation burns the endometrium to prevent it from reproducing. The scar that forms prevents the endometrium from building up, so there is no blood to shed during menstruation. As a result, blood may be forced into the fallopian tubes, thus causing more pain.
Watery and bloody vaginal discharge for a few weeks
Some women may continue bleeding even after the procedure, because areas of the endometrium are burned unevenly, giving way to some endometrium tissue to grow. However, there is no way of determining whether the bleeding is caused by ablation or not.
In extreme cases, endometrial ablation may have long-term effects of miscarriage, foul-smelling discharge, heavy bleeding, fever, pain when passing urine, chills, and severe menstrual cramping.
In conclusion, endometrial ablation provides an alternative to the removal of the uterus, as things were in the past. Going by recent statistics, 70% to 80% of women who have undergone endometrial ablation are satisfied with the results. Moreover, most of the women have reported significant improvement following their treatment.
Endometrial ablation may not be for every woman, but it provides a permanent solution to recurring menstrual flow problems experienced by many women.