Symptoms After Endometrial Ablation

Endometrial ablation is an alternative treatment option to a hysterectomy that destroys the uterine lining. It may control heavy bleeding known as menorrhagia. It is a day surgery and most women can continue normal activities after one week.

Features

• Prior to 1995, most women that experienced heavy bleeding opted for a hysterectomy. Today, endometrial ablation is a very popular method since it is a relatively minor procedure.

Effects

• According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, "you may have cramping or other discomfort after the procedure, but most women don't feel pain associated with the procedure itself."

Benefits

• Ablation procedures take 60 to 90 minutes from start to finish; the procedure is performed under general anesthesia. According to PreventDisease.com, 90 percent of women 1 year after ablation were either period free or had very light cycles.

Considerations

• Women may experience bleeding or discharge several weeks after the procedure, and nausea from anesthesia.

Warning

• Women considering this treatment should be finished with childbearing as this procedure can make it difficult to conceive.