Has anyone had a uterine ablation?

[Reesewitherknife]

I’ve been experiencing awful periods for the last 5-6 years (housebound for 3-4 days, passing clots and very anaemic as a result).
I’m 47 and probably perimenopausal which doesn’t help but I have uterine polyps which I have had removed a couple of times over the last 4 years but they keep growing back. A scan a few weeks ago confirmed they are back and also a possible adenomyosis (now awaiting a hysteroscopy).
During the telephone consultation the gynaecologist said he would perform the hysteroscopy after the us scan, take a biopsy and insert a Mirena (I don’t want this as I react to hormonal meds) but he just talked over me! He did mention an ablation which is something I have asked for in the passed as my friend has had one and hasn’t had a period in 4 years but that wasn’t mentioned again once HE decided I was to have the mirena!
However, when I google this procedure there are some horror stories (mainly from the USA) of continuous pain and failure of the ablation.
I need to contact him to tell him of my decision so wonder if anyone had this procedure and what was the outcome?

I had one instead of a hysterectomy and it worked well in stopping my periods but as the lining grew back I ended up with adenomyosis and had to get a hysterectomy anyway.
I know it has worked well on others but personally I wish I had gone ahead with the hysterectomy the first time.
2 friends were offered it or the mirena and both have the mirena and find it ok.

I had an ablation and mine failed. It failed very quickly so I waited 6 months and had a hysterectomy. No regrets.

I also had a male doctor pushing for me to have the coil fitted. I had to be extremely firm in my instructions that I did not want one. He passed comment that my research on it shouldn’t have been based on internet research and should have been based on his knowledge alone. Needless to say, I asked for another doctor.

I had the coil after my second DD but got it removed after a few months, the hormones were keeping my ligaments too soft, it was like I was still pregnant.

I had one a few months after dd was born-heavy bleeding, as I recall. It was 7 years ago and I’ve never had a period /bleeding since and, since I was 46 then, I think I am through menopause now. Mirena was suggested and briefly tried but never agreed with me-hormone sends me psycho.

Fridgeandkitchen I have had the same, it’s been pushed on me during every appointment I’ve had, one consultant got quite angry with me when I refused, he ended up making me cry because I felt so frustrated and not listened to. I asked this last gynaecologist for info on the Mirena and all I’ve been given is a leaflet made by the makers of Mirena which isn’t exactly unbiased. I also asked one gynaecologist if the mirena can cause breast cancer and he said absolutely not in fact it helps prevent it, I asked for info/studies on these findings, he couldn’t supply me with any, so I wasn’t going to just take his word for it! In my experience the mirena is pushed and pushed (by consultants and gp’s) and no other options are discussed. Argh, so frustrating.

My mum had one, she was having terrible periods during the menopause and opted for it as an alternative to hysterectomy. She was having periods for 2 weeks at a time, really heavy, tampon and sanitary towels but still flooding after an hour, even at night. Two weeks after it would end, it would start again. Not surprisingly she ended up aneamic. She was already depressed as my dad had died suddenly, so this didn't help.

She had it done in the 90s and it was still a relatively new procedure. Because it was a long time ago, I can't remember the ins and outs but I know it changed her life for the better and she was delighted with it. Unfortunately she has since died since then so I can't ask her more but if she was around she'd say go for it.

I had 1 after Mirena coil was removed. This was over 10 yeras ago and it was lifechanging
No more periods ever, no pain aneamia sorted
Game changer for me

Thanks all, I really want to have one, may have to save up and pay privately if they refuse.
Spidey66 your poor mum, every two weeks must have been exhausting.

I had one and it was a total game changer. My heavy painful periods literally ruled my life for years (sounds like your mum, @Spidey66). After trying every single medical intervention under the sun for none to work, it was agreed I could have an ablation (about 2007 I think). Numerous polyps and fibroids removed. Overnight all problems stopped and I haven’t had pain or a period since. Completely gave me my life back. Fight for it op, I really hope you benefit like I did.

I had one age 47 Like you I'd suffered horrendous flooding and was anaemic
I can honestly say my ablation was life changing and I never had another Period again.. I must've gone into the menopause as I'm now 55
I wish I'd had it years earlier
It was quick day surgery with a couple of days cramping
The techniques have changed since the US stories so don't let that put you off

Thank you both, I definitely need something life changing as I can’t keep carrying on like this.

I would imagine it's widely available on the NHS as it's an excellent alternative to a hysterectomy....cheaper, much quicker recovery time, less invasive. I've had a hysterectomy for fibroids and while I don't regret it if an ablation was clinically suitable for m e I'd have gone for that.

Spidey66 this is where my second issue comes in! I was due to have an ablation 4 years ago. I asked the gynaecologist if he would do it under a local as I’ve had issues with general anaesthetic in the past. He went away to find out and a week later said yes. The day came for the ablation, I went to the day centre, got into my hospital gown, had all the pre op checks and meds and sat waiting to be called. The anaesthetist came over to introduce himself, looked at my notes and refused to go through with it under a local. I was gutted. I think I will only get it under a local privately unfortunately.

Worked very well for me. Periods didn't stop altogether but much reduced blood loss.

Worth doing.

I had one 10 years ago. It didn’t work- as in, didn’t work at all . Consultant offered to do it again as he had “acted conservatively” but tbh the aftermath was so awful that I couldn’t face it. I later saw another consultant who suggested hysterectomy but by that time I was much older and likely to go into menopause thus risking a big operation for potentially little benefit. As it turned out I would have gained less than a year from it. In the same position today I would go for the hysterectomy, no messing about.
They will push the Mirena at you, but I don’t believe it works very well in people with adenomyosis, polyps and fibroids tbh. I didn’t bother with it.

LastGoldenDaysofSummer even lighter periods would be a dream.
JosephineDeBeauharnais do you know which type of ablation you had?

@Reesewitherknife
Please don't struggle on Heavy periods affect your everyday life
I hope you can get your situation sorted very soon

Oh and they likely wouldn't do it under local as your muscles don't relax under a local anaesthetic where's with a light general they would do don't be put off
Yes, it's widely available on NHS

Thanks uncomfortablydumb53 I cant have a general as I’m very unwell for weeks after. I may have to rethink my options.

I was to have one two years ago but i had a fibroid that was too large so they mechanically removed my endometrium and the fibroid via hysteroscopy. I went from flooding to having barely there periods, i was 43.

They can give you an epidural if general anaestheisa isnt good for you.

I had an ablation done around 7 years ago. Wanted hysterectomy due to very heavy periods and pelvic pain, plus we decided we didn’t want any more children. I was offered an ablation and sterilisation with clips instead.

I think in my case it’s been a total success. Haven’t had a period since. I was on my monthly when they performed the surgery so that may have helped or they administered a double shot of laser?

The advice at the time was I’d need a few days off work but if I rested over the weekend, come Monday I’d feel right as rain.

When I woke from surgery I was in agony and screaming. It felt like a hot poker was up me noonee. Plenty of Morphine didn’t even touch it, and a horse dose of ketamine finally numbed the pain. I kept forgetting to breathe and DH looked shocked when he come to collect me. I came down from my trip around 2 days later.

It took a month to recover, couldn’t put anything against my tummy and to this day I think my womb has been melted to my bowels. Ever since I’ve had issues with tummy and bowels which they say is IBS 🙄

It was a “success” in the hospitals eyes, periods gone but if you have the ablation do not have a local and read up as much as you can.

Auldspinster Is that the same as a d&c? No one has mentioned being able to remove the endometrium that way. I’m waiting for my hysteroscopy appointment so will ask if that’s possible.

Please ask for some time with an anaesthetist, to find out about your options. I get terribly unwell from GA, and more recently I've been able to find out what might be the cause and it's made a huge difference. Turns out that, for me, it wasn't actually the anaesthetic, it was the pain relief they gave me whilst I was under.

Left me vomiting and low bp for days.

Anyway, ablation, truly life changing, but again, you need to stand your ground and find someone who does a lot of them.

Don't speak to me about the mirena, or Male gynecologists.

DID you know, the patient information varies from country to country. In Canada and Sweden it said not to be used by anyone who had experienced depression, but did not say it in the UK one??!! I felt awful, and got persistent UTIs - I was so angry.

Good luck!

An ablation is exactly that, the removal of the endometrial lining by cauterisation. A d&c is the same, but scraping, not cauterisation . I feel a bit sick now!