Novasure Endometrial Ablation
What is Novasure Endometrial Ablation?
Novasure endometrial ablation is a one-time minor procedure that can lighten – or completely eliminate -- your heavy periods. For 90 percent of women, menstrual bleeding is dramatically reduced or stopped – without hormones and without removing anything. It usually also helps with painful periods and PMS. It has become very popular among women because it has very little risk and down time and can often prevent the need for major surgery such as hysterectomy.
Endometrial ablation means that the bloody lining of the uterus is cauterized and turns into scar tissue so that there is either no bleeding with periods or less bleeding. Nothing is actually removed, so it is a minor procedure and only requires a few days of recovery. There are no hormonal changes with the procedure, only less bleeding or no periods at all.
There are several different methods available for endometrial ablation. Dr. Wellhoner usually prefers the Novasure endometrial ablation since it can most easily be done in the office setting under local anesthesia. The Novasure is a small electrocautery umbrella device that is inserted into the uterus and then removed after the 60-90 second cauterization.
Depending on patient preference, Novasure can also be done under anesthesia in the operating room. For some women another method of endometrial ablation called hydrothermal ablation may be preferred because it works better in certain cases for women with fibroids or very large or small uteruses. This procedure circulates very hot water in and out of the uterus for 10 minutes and is best done under anesthsia in the operating room; results are the same as with Novasure.
If heavy bleeding is affecting your lifestyle, you should discuss endometrial ablation with your doctor or nurse practitioner. More information is available at Novasure.
Endometrial ablation means that the bloody lining of the uterus is cauterized and turns into scar tissue so that there is either no bleeding with periods or less bleeding. Nothing is actually removed, so it is a minor procedure and only requires a few days of recovery. There are no hormonal changes with the procedure, only less bleeding or no periods at all.
There are several different methods available for endometrial ablation. Dr. Wellhoner usually prefers the Novasure endometrial ablation since it can most easily be done in the office setting under local anesthesia. The Novasure is a small electrocautery umbrella device that is inserted into the uterus and then removed after the 60-90 second cauterization.
Depending on patient preference, Novasure can also be done under anesthesia in the operating room. For some women another method of endometrial ablation called hydrothermal ablation may be preferred because it works better in certain cases for women with fibroids or very large or small uteruses. This procedure circulates very hot water in and out of the uterus for 10 minutes and is best done under anesthsia in the operating room; results are the same as with Novasure.
If heavy bleeding is affecting your lifestyle, you should discuss endometrial ablation with your doctor or nurse practitioner. More information is available at Novasure.
Heavy Bleeding
About one in five women suffer with very heavy periods, periods that interfere with normal social and work activities. Bleeding often gets worse in the 30s and 40s as women approach menopause and is sometimes, but not always, associated with benign disease in the uterus, such as fibroids and adenomyosis. Some women are not aware that their bleeding is heavier than normal. If you are bleeding through onto clothing and bedding, having to leave or miss work because of bleeding or having to change your protection during the night, then your periods are probably abnormally heavy.
Heavy and prolonged bleeding can interfere with sexual intimacy and and keep you from enjoying a normal active lifestyle. Heavy menstrual bleeding often leads to chronic anemia and fatigue, increased PMS and mood problems. Many women are not aware that they have iron deficiency anemia from their heavy periods. If you have heavy periods, you should be checked for anemia. Heavy periods are not something you have to live with. Today, there are a number of effective treatment options available.
Heavy and prolonged bleeding can interfere with sexual intimacy and and keep you from enjoying a normal active lifestyle. Heavy menstrual bleeding often leads to chronic anemia and fatigue, increased PMS and mood problems. Many women are not aware that they have iron deficiency anemia from their heavy periods. If you have heavy periods, you should be checked for anemia. Heavy periods are not something you have to live with. Today, there are a number of effective treatment options available.
Is Novasure Endometrial Ablation Right For Me?
Several options are available to treat heavy bleeding, and your doctor or nurse practitioner would be happy to discuss all of them with you. Oral contraceptive pills or contraceptive shots are a good option for women who desire future childbearing. These methods require ongoing use and are not a permanent solution. Another good option for many woman is the Mirena IUD, a T-shaped birth control device that stays in the uterus for 5 years and lightens bleeding by releasing small amounts of progesterone. It can then be removed or replaced and does not cause permanent infertility.
The Novasure endometrial ablation is a low-risk, low-recovery alternative to hysterectomy which can often be done in the office. Other advantages are that no ongoing hormones are required and nothing is removed. It is not reversible, however, and future childbearing is not possible. Though pregnancy after endometrial ablation is rare, it can result in an abnormal pregnancy and is not recommended. It is preferable for one member of the couple to have had a sterilization procedure or to use a reliable method of birth control after Novasure. Often tubal ligation is performed along with the Novasure endometrial ablation.
The Novasure endometrial ablation is not perfect. About 50% or women never bleed again, and another 35% of women bleed less and are satisified with the results.
However, Novasure endometrial ablation has a 10-15% possability of not reducing bleeding. In case of failure of endometrial ablation, other options or hysterectomy may be considered.
The only way to guarantee no more bleeding is to have a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus).
However, Novasure endometrial ablation has a 10-15% possability of not reducing bleeding. In case of failure of endometrial ablation, other options or hysterectomy may be considered.
The only way to guarantee no more bleeding is to have a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus).
If you have a hysterectomy, the hormone-producing ovaries can either be removed or left alone, depending on your individual circumstance. Hysterectomy is a major surgery requiring general anesthesia, with more risk and recovery than endometrial ablation, so it is often recommended to try safer and less invasive treatments first. Most women are back to normal activities in about three days after Novasure, whereas hysterectomy requires 2-8 weeks of recovery.
More information available at the Novasure website.
More information available at the Novasure website.