New Outpatient Procedure for Women
Heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding
can be an upsetting problem for some
women, says Hugh W. Stancill, III,
MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist
with the OB-GYN Group of Laurel.
“The problem affects each woman differently, but for many it’s a quality-of-life issue,” Dr. Stancill says. “Their bleeding is so heavy or unpredictable that they worry about leaving the house and going about their normal activities.” These women may have periods that last longer than a week or have to change their sanitary napkins or tampons every hour for several hours at a time.
No Need to Suffer
In the past, a hysterectomy was sometimes suggested for some women with heavy bleeding. But a new alternative, called endometrial ablation, does not require removing the uterus. However, it is only an option for women who no longer want children.
“With this minimally invasive treatment, we often can eliminate a woman’s periods completely,” Dr. Stancill says. During the procedure, the doctor inserts a device into the uterus that uses heat to destroy the lining layer. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis, so women go home the same day. The most common side effect is cramping. “Most women are back to work within a week of the procedure,” Dr. Stancill says.
What Is Menorrhagia?
Abnormal or irregular menstrual bleeding is called menorrhagia and can affect women of any age. Menorrhagia may be caused by many factors, one of which is benign growths called fibroid tumors. These affect up to 25% of women of childbearing age. Others have irregular hormones that can cause irregular bleeding, and sometimes this can be fixed with hormone regulation. Still for other women, there may not be a clear cause of the problem.
