I Have Extremely Heavy Periods: Is Endometrial Ablation Right for Me?

Heavy periods are a lot more common than many women realize, but unfortunately, many women don’t bother to seek treatment that could help normalize their periods and their lives, too. While treatment can vary based on the cause of heavy flow, many women benefit from a minimally invasive procedure called endometrial ablation.

As a top-ranked women’s health specialist, Richard Roberts, MD, specializes in helping women at OB/GYN Associates of Conroe manage unusually heavy periods. In this post, he explains why heavy flow occurs and when endometrial ablation can be an appropriate treatment option.

Why heavy periods happen

Your period happens when the uterus sheds its inner lining, called the endometrium, a process that happens each month after ovulation when the egg is not fertilized. 

The endometrium is typically a standard thickness, resulting in a normal, regular flow. If the endometrium layer is “extra thick,” your periods can be heavier and longer-lasting.

Women with heavy periods need to change pads or tampons very often — sometimes hourly, even during the night. Many women pass large clots or have symptoms that interfere with their work, social activities, and everyday plans. Worse, these periods can lead to other problems, like severe fatigue, dizziness, weakness, and anemia.

Abnormally heavy periods become more common around menopause as your body’s production of estrogen shifts and periods become more irregular. Other potential causes include uterine fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, or bleeding disorders.

What to know about endometrial ablation

Endometrial ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses targeted heat energy to destroy the endometrium. Once it’s destroyed (or dramatically thinned), your periods naturally become lighter or, in some cases, stop entirely.

The actual procedure typically takes less than a couple of minutes. Before treatment, Dr. Roberts may use a numbing agent or sedatives to help you relax and stay comfortable. You lie on the exam table with your feet in the support, just as you do for a regular pelvic exam. 

Dr. Roberts gently dilates your cervix, then inserts a special wand that contains a small net that expands to cover your endometrium. Once in place, this net delivers a 90-second burst of radiofrequency energy that heats and destroys the endometrium. 

Afterward, you spend about two hours in a recovery room before being discharged. You need someone to drive you home, and you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Some women report mild discomfort for a few days, but most resume regular activity within a day or so.

Ideal candidates

Endometrial ablation is very effective in eliminating heavy periods, but like any medical treatment, it’s not the best choice for everyone. 

For instance, because the procedure destroys the uterine lining, it’s definitely not a good choice if you want to become pregnant in the future. It’s also generally not ideal if you:

• Are in menopause
• Have an active infection in the area
• Have a history of uterine or endometrial cancer
• Have a history of fibroids

In these instances, Dr. Roberts may advise other options to help manage your periods. For instance, women who want to have more children may benefit from a different form of birth control, like an IUD. Other women may find some measure of relief through hormone therapy.

Relief for heavy periods

Living with heavy periods can be frustrating and even overwhelming, but some solutions can help. To find out more about endometrial ablation and whether it’s the right choice for you, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at OB/GYN Associates of Conroe in Conroe, Texas, today.