Is Endometrial Ablation Your Best Option?

Heavy menstrual bleeding can definitely take a toll on your life, but what many women don’t know is that heavy bleeding is actually very common and treatment can help. Endometrial ablation is a highly effective treatment for many types of heavy bleeding, but it’s not the best choice for everyone.

Richard Roberts, MD, and the team at OB/GYN Associates of Conroe recommend endometrial ablation for many types of heavy bleeding, reducing monthly flow and improving quality of life. Here, learn more about endometrial ablation so you can decide if it might be a good choice for you.

Understanding endometrial ablation

Endometrial ablation is a medical procedure that removes your endometrium, the tissue that lines your uterus. The endometrium plays a key role in pregnancy, supporting the developing fetus as it grows. 

During your menstrual cycle, your endometrium thickens in preparation for potential pregnancy during or around ovulation. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, the endometrium is shed during your period. 

The endometrium is very responsive to hormonal fluctuations that occur during your menstrual cycle, specifically fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone. As you get closer to menopause, levels of these hormones change dramatically, often causing very heavy periods — so heavy, they can disrupt your daily routine and even interrupt your sleep.

Endometrial ablation is often recommended to help manage heavy bleeding by removing the endometrial layer so it can no longer be shed. While it’s very effective in reducing or even eliminating menstrual flow, it’s not always the best choice for women with heavy periods.

How to tell if endometrial ablation is right for you

Endometrial ablation is an outpatient procedure that doesn’t involve any incisions or prolonged recovery time. In fact, the procedure itself takes about 10 minutes or less, and most women return to their regular activities the next day, making it very appealing to most women looking for a solution for heavy bleeding. Still, it’s not appropriate for all women with heavy periods.

Child-bearing plans

Remember, endometrial ablation removes your endometrium. Since this tissue layer plays an important role in pregnancy, ablation isn’t a good idea if you plan on becoming pregnant in the future. If you want to have children in the future, Dr. Roberts can recommend other treatments to help manage your heavy bleeding symptoms.

Medical history

Ablation also may not be a good idea for women with a history of prior medical issues involving the uterus. That includes women with a history of certain infections, uterine cancer, or endometrial hyperplasia, a precancerous condition associated with endometrial thickening and heavy bleeding. 

Uterine anatomy

If you have unusual uterine anatomy — for instance, if your uterus is abnormally shaped or positioned — endometrial ablation may not be an ideal choice, either. It’s also not appropriate for women with large uterine fibroids, although it may be used to treat heavy bleeding caused by smaller fibroids.

Before recommending endometrial ablation, Dr. Roberts performs a comprehensive exam, often accompanied by lab tests and diagnostic imaging, to ensure ablation is right for you. He may also prescribe medication or other treatments first, recommending endometrial ablation if noninvasive therapies are ineffective.

Don’t ignore abnormal bleeding

Abnormal bleeding is a common symptom of menopause and perimenopause, but it can have other causes too, including cancer. If you have unusually heavy or long periods, a medical evaluation is the first step toward finding the best solution and preventing potential complications.

To schedule an evaluation or learn more about endometrial ablation, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at OB/GYN Associates of Conroe in Conroe, Texas, today.