Endometrial Ablation

[mizu]

Has anyone had this done - womb lining removed due to really heavy periods? I have had the consultation and have thought hard about it for a month and have decided to go ahead.

Any experiences? Does it work well? Also what contraception did you use after as I currently have a copper coil in and have been told that I can't have a coil in after the operation.

Thanks

Yep - FANTASTIC! Search for threads by me over past 3 or 4 years.

Make sure you have the Novasure method not balloon - which has higher risk of side effects/thermal damage.

Go for it - it's life changing - seriously - totally liberating.

This is helpful hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/endometrial_ablation.html

Thanks fortyplus, I will look at the website later. Now I have decided to do it I am really looking forward to the changes!!

What have you done about contraception? I can't take any kind of hormone so it looks like condoms which we haven't used for years.

Why can't he get the snip?

Hi

I spoke to my consultant when I went for my follow up appt. He said that the official line has to be that you need to use contraception. However, as I was having little or no bleeding he said that any fertilised egg would be 'dropping into a void' so I needn't worry. So we haven't used anything and it's been fine - even though I was super-fertile before (conceived 1st attempt both times).

Just a cautionary note, though: Not everyone has their womb lining destroyed completely by the process, so if you're still having significant bleeding afterwards then there may be enough left for a fertilised egg to implant. The womb lining can start to grow back after a few years which would cause the same scenario. and finally endometrial ablation offers no protection against ectopic pregnancy so if you don't have clear fallopian tubes you'd be unwise not to use contraception.

I have taken up kayaking since I had endometrial ablation - I recently spent 5 hours in a boat when I had my period. That would've been impossible before. Sometimes I was changing a pad and a tampon after about 20 mins.

It's just brilliant

I'm having novasure done sone.

Erm the consultant was very very clear that you still need to use reliable contraception and he recommend one of you was sterilsed.

If you do fall pregnant after ablation it can be very risky for both mum and baby.

Apparantly ablatation is only 40% completely successful and 30% partially successful.

Go for it! I just had a period without even taking a parecetomal - I used to be in such pain that I'd vomit.
Had it done a year ago - I am infertile and don't need to use contraception but you must otherwise as if you were to fall, your uterine lining/walls couldn't support a pregnancy

Good luck!

Definitely recommend it. I had balloon endometrial ablation done in April as I was having really heavy periods lasting for 2 weeks. Am really pleased as my periods are much more manageable. I had my tubes clipped at the same time, so now no need for contraception either Good luck

Thanks all, yes we have discussed DH having the snip and it is a possibility. My periods are very heavy and I am anaemic because of them and just feel crap before period (pmt) and during as I am so goddamn tired.

Both my mun and nan had hysterectomies in their early 40s cos of the same problem.

Guess one of us should be sterilised as even with the coil in I am paranoid I am going to get pregnant every month .

Mizu I just wanted to add that when I first saw my gynaecologist about endo ablation he mentioned contraception. At the time I believed that endo ablation would leave me infertile, was quite surprised to find it didn't. I'm 42 and over the years have tried the Pill and the mirena, the latter causing the most problems. He suggested sterilising me at the same time and for me this was the best solution. Everything was done under general anaesthetic, and the recovery time was less than 2 weeks. Might be worth asking your gynaecologist about this.

orangeflutie, I'm being sterilised at the same time, how bad were the first 3 days - my op is 4pm on a Friday - whole weekend at home with young dc being noisy etc?????

How long off work?

I had this procedure 12 months ago, wasnt really a success for me, still using mooncup and some leaking but isnt as bad as previously (biscuit)

well I'm going down the hysterectomy route if it isn't much improved.

I'd just like to be able to leave the house every day rather than doing the school run only for 3 of them!

I had it done a few years back, I wanted it done under a local and sedation but as it was still fairly new, they would only do it under a GA.

It was the best thing I ever did, not a single period afterwards and I used to flood every 20 minutes for the first 3 days of my period.

I was sterilised already, was warned that you would still need contraception if you weren't.

Go for it, recovery very straight forward,had it done on the thursday, back on my feet the next day and minding again on the Monday.

Cargirl the first three days you will need to be on strong painkillers and need some help with the dc. I have three dds myself and my dh had to help early on. My gynae did warn me not to do too much early on and control any pain. I had a week off work, mainly cos I didn't feel comfortable driving until after the first week. Everything did heal remarkably quickly tho, so good luck x

I'm wimpering at the thought! I really hope mine is successful. Last time I had GA I was violent sick for a 12 hours afterwards I hope that doesn't happen this time!

Can I just say thank God I read this thread and can I ask all of your opinions please?

I have had major issues with my periods (on and off in between pg) for the last 20 years. I have small 'clumps' of endo dotted around my womb and insides according to my gynae. I've had 4 laperoscopys (sp?)

My mum and nan both had hysterectomys in their early thirties too as that was the only 'cure' for heavy periods etc.

Thing is, I'm not sure what is actually wrong with me.

I bleed fresh blood - bright red - every month for the first 2/3 days, I have to change my tampon and/or pad every 20 - 30 mins.

Sometimes the tampons hang very low with the amount of blood in them. And sometimes they hurt. As in, they hurt when inside me.

The pain each month is sickening and awful. Do you think endo ablation could help me? We don't want any more children as have a DS with SN and I have mobility issues.

Sorry to hijack.

Def worth asking for a referral to gynae with a view to having ablation done. I simply asked my gp for a referral as I've tried all the hormone contraceptives (I then just bleed randomly) the mirena coil (threads irritated me and couldn't stand it any longer after 2 years plus still had week long periods - although very light).

A partial hysterectomy isn't what it used to be either - it's done vaginally now apparantly and of course they leave your ovaries.

Are you not still under your gynae?

Have you tried tanexamic acid, you take these for the first 4 days and it reduces the blood loss - def helps but I'm fed up with proper periods for a full week and still sometimes flood during the night etc.

Hi Mouseface how awful for you having to go through such heavy painful periods each month Before I had my ablation done I also had bad cramps and flooding. I really sympathise as I used to dread each month.

You do need to see a gynae again as you may find an ablation really helpful.

When you had your laproscopies was your endo removed? I was found to have endo and an ovarian cyst which was causing the heavy bleeding. Since having this all removed and the ablation, my periods are shorter and lighter.

cargirl

Sorry I vanished, BT broke my internet for me!! Nope, we moved house and I haven't had a chance to get re-reffered (I was pg when we moved and DS has SN so time is tight for 'me')

I was put on Northisterone (sp?) I think, it was a while back now so not sure if that is actually what it was but it didn't help. Niether did the coil or any of the contraceptive pills.

orangeflutie

Do you know, I have no idea if they have removed it or not. How stupid is that. I don't remember his saying that they did or didn't.

I will try to get to the doctors. I must. It seems to get worse each month. Thing is, I forget once I stop bleeding and then before I know it, bam! Here we go again.

Do you know what, I'm going to call for an appointment now.

Thank you for your advice.

cargirl I hope Friday goes ok for you.

Exactly what I do, get my period, think goddamnit I have GOT to get this sorted out as I am not really comfortable going out the house for a couple of days during my period as it is so heavy. Then I get to the end and sort of forget until it all starts again.

I want to get it sorted as I know cos of my
Mum and Nan that it is likely to get worse
and worse.

I am also deciding whether to have endometrial ablation as I have terrible heavy periods. Don't want to have the Mirena coil as I am worried about the hormone effects/depression etc. I made an appointment to have have the operation a few months ago but chickened out at the moment. Unfortunalety I had been researching the side effects of the operation and looked on lots of (mostly American) forums and websites and there were lots of commenta about an increase in PMT and an increase in cramping pains when the period was due. I shouldn't have let this put me off as I know that most people do not post on websites when things go right, but mostly when things go wrong (unlike Mumsnet when we just post all the time!).

So every month when I have a terrible period I say to myself that I should rebook for the EA, but then when I have a better period I put my head in the sand and hope that it will all get better by itself (which it won't)!

I've had to put my op off until November in order to get help with transport and childcare!

I've no idea why they put you on northisterone as that's usually used to delay the start of your period?