God do I hate my period. So much. It takes over a week and it’s heavy and just awful. I want it gone. So, please, tell me your experiences with Endometrial Ablation, please.
I already have one child, and he is the greatest human being ever to live. I am fairly certain I won’t ever want another one, because when you roll the dice and get a natural 20 it’s best to just let that ride. So, I’m fine with needing sterilization to go with my Endometrial Ablation. I’m considering Essure, since it’s fairly non-invasive and highly effective. So if you have any experience with that too, please let me know.
I can’t tell you about endometrial ablation, but I can tell you about fibroids. Have you discussed what is causing your periods to be so heavy with your doctor?
If you haven’t, make a log of which pad/tampon you use, how often you change it, and if you are having clots, and how often you have those. I wish I had done this when I was having problems, it would have made discussing the problem with the doctor much easier.
Had an ablation after my son was born, as I basically had constant annoying bleeding for months and months. It’s been a while, but I seem to remember that it was outpatient at the hospital; some minor cramping afterwards; and that’s about it. I was asleep during the procedure.
The doctor had told me it was a “textbook procedure” and was very pleased with the results. Me, not so much - I had been told that about 50% of women who have this procedure have no more periods, and I was really betting on being in that 50%. Unfortunately, I was in the less lucky half Although the bleeding continued, it was minor compared to what it had been prior.
I had the Essure ablation a few years ago. It was a simple out-patient procedure, so that was nice. I had complications in that I got a post-op pyelonephritis and was readmitted for IV antibiotics. I then bled lightly for forever (maybe 8-12 weeks, I forgot now). They had some trouble during the procedure at the time involving my cervix. Even after all those problems, I would do it again. While the Doc was careful to let me know it was not a treatment designed to prevent pregnancy, I have not become pregnant in all these years. Occasionally, I have a very, very light discharge that I assume would have been a period, but don’t require pads or any other menstrual cycle products.
I had mine because I was older, had all the kids I wanted, and had heavy, iregular periods that ruined clothes, sheets, and mattresses. I was very glad to solve that problem.
Essure isn’t ablation, though. It’s a method of blocking the fallopian tubes. You may have had ablation at the same time, but they’re very different procedures.
To the OP: As others have suggested, talk to the gyn about your situation. You may have fibroids, there may be something else going on, or you may “just” have painful heavy periods. There are things you can try before going with a permanent option, and in fact the doctor might require that you at least try something like hormonal therapy or a D&C/hysteroscopy (if that is even indicated for those symptoms; I had one to “clean things up” and check for issues when I had many months of nearly nonstop spotting).
Do not let the doctor pooh-pooh your discomfort, however.
I didn’t have this done. Instead, I had my uterus and ovaries removed. It’s the best thing ever. I do a little happy dance when I go past the feminine products aisle, even after over a decade of being period free.
If you’re absolutely sure that you don’t want any more kids, ever, then discuss all the options with your doctor. And don’t resort to crochet hooks!
Although the bleeding continued, it was minor compared to what it had been prior.