Should i have endometrial ablation

If it does, the risks of miscarriage and other problems are greatly increased. If a woman still wants to become pregnant, she should not have this procedure.

Women who have endometrial ablation should use birth control until after menopause. Sterilization may be a good option to prevent pregnancy after ablation. A woman who has had ablation still has all her reproductive organs.

Routine cervical cancer screening and pelvic exams are still needed. Radiofrequency—A probe is inserted into the uterus through the cervix. The tip of the probe expands into a mesh-like device that sends radiofrequency energy into the lining.

The energy and heat destroy the endometrial tissue, while suction is applied to remove it. Freezing—A thin probe is inserted into the uterus. The tip of the probe freezes the uterine lining. Ultrasound is used to help guide the procedure. Heated fluid—Fluid is inserted into the uterus through a hysteroscope, a slender, light-transmitting device. The fluid is heated and stays in the uterus for about 10 minutes. The heat destroys the lining.

Heated balloon—A balloon is placed in the uterus with a hysteroscope. Heated fluid is put into the balloon. The balloon expands until its edges touch the uterine lining. He or she expands it. Then your provider sends an electrical current made by radio waves to destroy the lining. Cold cryoablation. Your provider uses a probe with very cold temperature to freeze the lining. Microwaves microwave ablation. Your provider sends microwave energy through a thin probe to destroy the lining.

Why might I need an endometrial ablation? Your healthcare provider may have other reasons to suggest endometrial ablation. What are the risks of an endometrial ablation? Possible complications of endometrial ablation include: Bleeding Infection Tearing of the uterine wall or bowel Overloading of fluid into the bloodstream Tell your healthcare provider if you are: Allergic to or sensitive to medicines, iodine, or latex Pregnant or think you could be.

Endometrial ablation during pregnancy may lead to miscarriage. You may not be able to have an endometrial ablation if you have: Vaginal or cervical infection Pelvic inflammatory disease Cervical, endometrial, or uterine cancer Recent pregnancy Weakness of the uterine muscle wall Intrauterine device IUD Past uterine surgery for fibroids Classic or vertical C-section incision Abnormal structure or shape of the uterus Certain things can make it harder to do certain types of endometrial ablation.

These include: Narrowing of the inside of the cervix Short length or large size of uterus How do I get ready for an endometrial ablation? Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure to you. Ask him or her any questions you have about the procedure.

You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives permission to do the procedure. Read the form carefully and ask questions if anything is unclear. You will be asked to stop eating and drinking fast for 8 hours before the test. This usually means after midnight. Tell your provider if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider if you are sensitive to or are allergic to any medicines, latex, tape, or anesthetic drugs local and general.

Tell your provider about all medicines you are taking. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and herbal supplements. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a bleeding disorder. Also tell your provider if you are taking blood-thinning medicine anticoagulant , aspirin, or other medicines that affect blood clotting. You may need to stop these medications before the procedure. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines to help thin the endometrial tissues to get ready for the procedure.

You may need to take the medicines for several weeks before the procedure. You may be given medicine to help you relax. Because the medicine may make you sleepy, you will need to have someone to drive you home.

You may want to bring a sanitary pad to wear home after the procedure. Follow any other instructions your provider gives you to get ready. What happens during an endometrial ablation? Generally, an endometrial ablation follows this process: For ablations using a hysteroscope You will be asked to remove clothing. You will be given a gown to wear. Additionally, ablation is not typically recommended for women who:.

In the past, women who suffered from heavy periods often had a hysterectomy removal of the uterus. An endometrial ablation is less invasive than a hysterectomy and can be performed on an outpatient basis. Doctors today usually try to control heavy bleeding with medication or sometimes an intrauterine device IUD first. Sue Ferrier didn't have heavy menstrual bleeding when she was referred for a NovaSure procedure in After months of frustration with a "brownish, very light" discharge, Ferrier, now 54, of Burks Falls in Ontario, Canada, reached out to her primary care doctor.

The discharge was merely "a nuisance," she said, but one that was affecting her life and her marriage. Ferrier wasn't on board immediately. She was otherwise healthy, wasn't in any pain, and wondered whether undergoing a procedure made sense.

I'm a little bit of a fearful person to begin with," she said. But she eventually convinced herself not to "overthink it, it's a second procedure. Its rates of success are, you know, way, way up there. So, let's go for it. About three days later, she woke up "moaning in pain" and told her husband she needed to go to the hospital. Although she lives less than 15 minutes from the emergency room, by the time she arrived, she had no memory of what happened.

She relies on her husband's memory instead. He told her about her blood pressure "bombing out," her sky-high heart rate, and being transferred to another hospital for an emergency hysterectomy. She had sepsis severe enough to require a medically-induced coma. She went home 10 days later, but within a week began to feel sick again. Doctors found an abscess, which Ferrier opted to let drain on its own, but she was soon back at the hospital as she continued to get weak.

Doctors gave her the strongest medicines they had and were even nervous to finally send her home in December in time for her youngest son's birthday. Ferrier says she has lingering consequences from her ordeal. She can't read more than a short chapter of a book without losing focus. She used to manage her family's finances, but now has trouble with math. She can't work because under any form of time pressure, "my mind goes blank.