Uterine Ablation Facts
Menorrhagia Facts
- A common condition, especially for women in their 40s
- Affects more than 10 million women in the United States
- Characterized by very heavy periods that last more than seven days
- Can be accompanied by anemia, fatigue, extreme cramps and back pain
Uterine Ablation
- A less invasive, drastic alternative to hysterectomy
- Sometimes called Endometrial Ablation or Uterine Balloon Therapy
- An outpatient, same-day procedure for women who are past childbearing years
- Minimally-invasive, requiring no incision
- Typically takes about a half-hour to perform
- During the procedure: A soft, flexible balloon is inserted into the uterine cavity through the vagina; the balloon is filled with water which is heated to a temperature high enough to burn and cauterize the lining of the uterus.
After the procedure:
Uterine Ablation has been shown to reduce menstrual flow by an average of 86%; In some cases, menstrual bleeding stops altogether.
- Recovery is fast and most women return to their normal activities in just two or three days, and occasionally even as soon as the next day
- The treated uterine lining sloughs off (like a period) over the seven days following the procedure
The result is drastically reduced (lighter) periods and no more worrying about profuse and potentially embarrassing bleeding