Each and every month, there are many women around the world who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding.
This condition can greatly affect a woman's quality of life as well as causing other medical issues such as anemia.
It is for this reason that the popularity of a procedure called endometrial ablation has risen over the last several years.
This particular procedure uses a lighted instrument called a hysteroscope to see within the uterus.
Then the endometrial ablation can be done using laser, freezing, electricity or heat.
The uterine lining, also called endometrium, heals by scarring.
Normally, this results in a great reduction of a woman's monthly bleeding.
However, this is not always a long-term solution as many women resume bleeding within five years.
The procedure is typically done on an outpatient basis using a local anesthesia.
Sometimes, however, general anesthesia may be used.
The recovery time is typically just a few days but might be up to two weeks.
There are some risks to this procedure including the typical risks that come along with any surgical procedure such as infection.
Additional risks include puncture of the uterus, burning of the uterus or bowel, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary edema, and tearing of the opening of the uterus.
The regrowth of the uterine lining might occur so this is not the recommended procedure if you're at high risk for endometrial cancer.
Most women should not choose to have endometrial ablation done until they are finished having children.
This is because some doctors recommend that a woman have her tubes tied after having endometrial ablation to protect against the chance of accidental pregnancy.
Don't believe the ones who say it's impossible to get pregnant.
It's not and this thread right here is the proof: http://www.
medhelp.
org/posts/Maternal--Child/Pregnancy-after-Endometrial-Ablation/show/153614.
After the surgery, most women will notice that her menstrual flow is greatly reduced.
In fact, up to half of these women will stop having periods altogether.
This means a woman will not be able to carry a pregnancy to term and will miscarry with the risks that attend that event and other pregnancy problems if she should get pregnant.
This is why your doctor wants you to have a tubal ligation.
Also another reason why you should not have an endometrial ablation if you think you may not be done having children.
If the woman is younger, she will likely resume her period at a later time while older women may never have another period again.
It is generally the younger women who change their minds about having their tubes tied as time goes.
The idea of tubal reversal and questions concerning it have come up for many women after having endometrial ablation and the tubal ligation done.
If you plan to become pregnant in the future, most doctors would tell you that endometrial ablation is not a good procedure to have.
If a woman is having heavy bleeding but plans to have more children in the future, it might be a better option for her to go on short term birth control to reduce her bleeding but preserve her fertility.