Are minor procedures an option for me?
Lifestyle Changes | Drug Therapy | Minor Procedures | Major Surgery
Minor procedures can take anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes and can be performed in either the operating room or the doctor's office. No cuts are made and, depending on the procedure used, patients can recover in a few hours or days. Below is a list of procedures you may want to discuss with your doctor.
Dilation and Curettage (D&C)
In this procedure, the top layer of the uterus lining is scraped away. The procedure is mostly used for determining the cause of heavy bleeding, not as a treatment. It may lighten your period, but only for a couple of cycles. D&C requires anesthesia, and the risks include those of minimally invasive surgical procedures.
If you do not plan on having children in the future, you may want to consider the procedure below.
Endometrial Ablation, including the NovaSure® Procedure
In this procedure, the doctor gently removes the lining of the uterus (the uterus itself is not removed). Generally, endometrial ablation methods include the use of heat, extreme cold, energy or laser. Your periods will be a lot lighter or may stop altogether.
Some of these procedures can be performed at any time during the menstrual cycle. Some methods can take up to 30 minutes. Until recently, all procedures required a pre-treatment drug to prepare the uterine lining. The pre-treatment drug must be started a few weeks before the procedure.
One of the latest advances in treatment for heavy periods can be performed at any time during your menstrual cycle and does not require a pre-treatment drug. The NovaSure® procedure can be done in five minutes or less. It only needs to be performed once to lighten or stop your periods. Because this is a minor procedure, recovery is quick. Many women can return to work the day following the procedure. It is safer and less expensive than a hysterectomy.
Endometrial ablation is for premenopausal women with heavy periods due to benign causes who are finished childbearing. Pregnancy following endometrial ablation can be dangerous. Endometrial ablation is not for those who have or suspect uterine cancer, have an active genital, urinary or pelvic infection, an IUD or a metal uterine implant. Endometrial ablation is not a sterilization procedure. Rare but serious risks include but are not limited to thermal injury, perforation and infection. Temporary side effects may include cramping, nausea, vomiting, discharge and spotting. Get your free brochure about heavy periods and the NovaSure procedure.
Important Safety Information: NovaSure is for premenopausal women with heavy periods due to benign causes who are finished childbearing. Pregnancy following NovaSure can be dangerous. NovaSure is not for those who have or suspect uterine cancer, have an active genital, urinary or pelvic infection, an IUD or a metal uterine implant. NovaSure is not a sterilization procedure. Rare but serious risks include but are not limited to thermal injury, perforation and infection. Temporary side effects may include cramping, nausea, vomiting, discharge and spotting.