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Endometrial Ablation

The endometrium is the layer of tissue found on the wall of your uterus. Each month, this layer fills with blood ready to accept a fertilised egg. Each month, this tissue falls away from the wall of the uterus and is discarded in the form of your period. 

For some women, the endometrium can contain a large amount of blood each month and, as a result, they result in quite heavy periods.

Endometrial ablation is one of the common treatments available used to help women who experience heavy periods. These can be the result of anything from a hormonal imbalance to the shape of the uterus itself. 

 

An ablation can be a very effective option for many women. It avoids long-term medical therapies and removes the need to address heavy periods through hormonal treatments.

It can affect your capacity to fall pregnant and to carry a child to term. With this in mind, please ensure you discuss any plans for a future pregnancy before you commit to this procedure.

There are a number of different types of endometrial ablation, and each uses a different type of specialist equipment. Each one reduces the lining of the uterus.

Please note, it may be possible to fall pregnant once you have had any of these procedures, but this can be risky. Guy will talk you through your options before you have any procedure. This will help you understand the reasons for choosing an endometrial ablation, what will happen during the operation, and what you can expect afterwards. The procedure has a small associated surgical risk, and the recovery is quite quick over the first few weeks.  You can reasonably expect a very good long-term result, but further treatment may occasionally be required.

FAQ’s

A day surgery procedure to help reduce or remove the lining of the uterus to improve heavy periods.

The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. 

Each month it fills with blood, ready for conception. Each month you do not fall pregnant, this lining falls away and is lost as a period.

If you have heavy or painful periods, this may be a symptom of either too much blood being lost through the endometrium, or a malfunctioning endometrium.

Your gynaecologist can help you understand why you’re having such heavy or painful periods, what your plans are regarding falling pregnant, and help you determine if endometrial ablation is the right procedure for you.

In the long-term endometrial ablation long term is usually 80-90% effective and most often results in giving you a light period or no periods at all.