Endometrial ablation - if you've had one

[Bemyclementine]

Do you still get periods? It was sold to me on the basis that I would either not get periods at all, or if I did they would be very light hardly noticeable. 5 weeks later, I have a very full on period. Not heavy like they were, but still, I'm on day 5 and it's still going, at a heavier than average rate.

I'm a bit pissed off tbh. I had previously been offered a hysterectomy but declined thinking this was the better option (recovery, hormones etc)

I still get periods. I had this done 5 years ago and they were only slighter lighter when it was done, they went lighter as the months went on to about half as much flow as before. After about 3 years of reduced flow they are getting to be as heavy as pre op.
Currently waiting for some test results before booking for a hysterectomy! Wish I'd went straight for that five years ago.

I had two heavy periods after the ablation, then a couple of very light ones then nothing - that was seven years ago!

I think I was quite lucky - I was told it was only a minority of women who stopped bleeding completely. I had also decided that if it didn’t significantly improve my periods (I was at the point where I couldn’t leave the house for the first three days because I flooded so badly) then I wanted a hysterectomy. I agreed with the gynae that I would see how it went for 6 months but I wasn’t willing to accept “we tried our best but it didn’t work, just put up with it”.

@oldtableleg mine were like that, so yes it's an improvement. But tbh I'm just sick of it. Tmi sorry...I have a minor prolapse, and so when I have a period, even if not ridiculously heavy, there seems to be a constant wetness. It's just horrible. I can't use tampons, or a moon cup

That's awful @HereLiesBetelgeuse I really wish I'd gone for it too now

I had this and it worked for a while but I ended up having a radical hysterectomy and wished I had had picked that option first. But easy to be wise after and it was worth a go.

Mine worked perfectly and although I still have monthly spotting I don’t have a proper
period any more. I don’t think they work for everyone though unfortunately :(.

Ah I'm so sorry they haven't worked out for everyone

Just for balance (in case anyone reading is due to have one) for me, my ablation was life changing. Nine years ago, and not one period since- not one. No spotting, cramps etc.

And prior to the ablation, I used to be practically house bound for days every month due to the heaviness and flow of my period.

I still get periods but nowhere near as heavy

A real mixed bag then. I really feel like I've been misled.

Not even spotting. Nothing at all for 5 years.

I had an ablation and ovary removal 4 weeks ago. I’m having a very, very light spotty period right now but hoping it stops soon. The premenstrual pain the other day was awful, but I don’t know if that’s related to the ovary removal?

@TheOtherBoleynGirls oddly enough, I've had pain too, whereas before while I had very very heavy periods, there was no real pain. I've had to take painkillers this time.

I think I read somewhere that it's to do with the scarring for the first few months?

Hopefully it won't last, I really hope the periods lessen as time goes on..

My experience too. Failed ablation led to even worse painful heavy periods with mid cycle pain that stopped me sleeping at night. I had prostap injections for 18 months to induce a chemical menopause after the ablation failed. Now waiting for a hysterectomy.

Don't lose heart, OP - like you, I had a very heavy period bang on schedule within a month of my endometrial ablation, followed four weeks later by the first "normal" period I'd had in years, and then...NOTHING for 12 months!

After that, I had just three very, very light two-day periods between 2018 and 2020. Peace, perfect peace ever since.

Just to put it in context, I was already 54 when I had the op, so the gynaecologist thought there was a good chance of it (finally!) triggering the menopause for me. I don't know what age you are, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that your experience follows a similar pattern if that's what you're really wishing for. 🙂

I'm 45 and just want no more bastard periods!

Give it some time, it might settle down. Mine was successful but it was 10 years ago and I can't remember if they stopped straightaway tbh. I definitely remember bleeding for a good few days after the op though.

Even now I will have the odd very light one now and again, but generally I would say they have gone for good, I hope yours do too.

I had an ablation a year ago, and I've not had a period since, although I had a coil fitted at the same time so that could be why.
Despite that, I feel misled too, as I was under the impression the 10 days every month of pains would stop but it only solved the bleeding not the pain.

I had it done about a year ago now. I had one month long bleed about a month after then absolutely nothing since then.

I had mine 10 years ago. Had horrendous bleeding for three weeks afterwards, then periods back to how they had been before i.e. every three weeks flooding. It made no difference at all and now according to pelvic ultrasound it’s impossible to tell I gad it done. My uterus looks normal for a woman of my age with a few small fibroids (I’m 59 and 7 yrs post menopause on HRT).
I wished I’d taken the hysterectomy when offered.