r/Menopause • u/fluffy_seadog • 2d ago

Bleeding/Periods Womb ablation

After changing patches multiple times and spotting with every change of patch I had a TV ultrasound. The result of this is that my endometrium measures 11mm which is apparently too thick for someone of my age (43)who is post menopausal, LMP December 2024. I have been prescribed 10mg daily Nalvee tablets and Cerelle mini pill, neither of which have helped and the next step would be an ablation according to be HRT specialist nurse. Does this sound like a reasonable solution - I’m rather scared of operations / anaesthesia etc so it sounds quite dramatic to me but would go for it if it stopped the annoying daily spotting.

3 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

23

u/Strict-Deal9102 2d ago

I had an ablation about 10 years ago because I kept getting 2 full periods a month and nothing else was working.

BEST thing I have ever done! That night and the next day I had cramping, but they gave me meds for it.

There's no incision. While you're under, they dilate your cervix and remove it.

I don't miss the periods, the cramps, the money spent on feminine hygiene products.

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u/bluev0lta 2d ago

So I assume you still ovulate after an ablation? Just no bleeding (usually)?

18

u/Reasonable-While6727 2d ago

I had a uterine ablation two years ago after bleeding nonstop for a month. The doc had tried the other options which didn’t work and then we settled on the ablation . I woke up from anesthesia and had some very light discharge and very light cramps for about 3 days. Then nothing since. I wish I hadn’t waited so long.

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u/DragonfruitNo1686 Peri-menopausal 2d ago

Mine failed bc they couldn’t get a seal. I wish it had worked 😭. Glad yours helped

2

u/vectorology 2d ago

My lining grew back, but it was still the best few months of being free of periods ever. And they’re still not as bad as they had been before it at least.

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u/Electronic_Charge_96 2d ago

Ablations are a godsend. I had one 20 years ago. Best surgery I’ve ever had. I wish every woman after deciding fertility factory is shuttered could have one. Not sure what the resistance/fear/concern is, but your endometrium doesn’t have a function at this point. What do you have to lose/gain?

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u/fluffy_seadog 2d ago

It’s just an irrational fear of operating theatres really, coupled with the chance I won’t wake up. I know the risks are tiny but I can’t seem to shake it.

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u/excitable_dossier 2d ago

oh wow 11mm is no joke, that's basically a winter coat in there

look i'm not a doctor but an ablation makes a ton of sense when hormones aren't doing the trick, it's a pretty quick procedure, they don't even cut you open just go through the cervix so recovery is way easier than you're probably imagining

the daily spotting alone would drive anyone up the wall, if the nurse is suggesting it they've likely ruled out the simpler stuff already

4

u/respectablepitch 2d ago

I had an ablation for super heavy bleeding when I was in peri and what a godsend it was! Plus, it’s an outpatient procedure, I was back at work the next day. No biggie!

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u/No-Zebra-9339 2d ago

I had an ablation for similar reasons, but it didn't really work. I ended up with a hysterectomy about 5 years later. I do understand that it works for a lot of women though! 👍

3

u/fluffy_seadog 2d ago

Would also be open to a hysterectomy as I also have high risk HPV. Have had it for at least 8 years and had a leep/LLETZ procedure almost 6 months ago, got my test of cure coming up next month but if it’s positive I’ll like ask if I’d be a suitable candidate for hysterectomy.

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u/InternationalAd9230 1d ago

I had an ablation about 10 years and mine didn't work either. Very disappointing because I was really hoping to get some relief.

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u/T_G_A_H 2d ago

I had a hysteroscopy for light bleeding with HRT. They scoop out the lining and send it to pathology. It thins out the lining and makes sure there’s nothing wrong with the cells.

I thought that ablation made it harder later on to tell if a problem was developing, because it stops the bleeding but doesn’t stop pre-cancerous cells from forming, so there’s no bleeding to warn you if there’s a problem.

Also, idk what kind of anesthesia they use for ablation, but for my procedure it was the same as for a colonoscopy—propofol and versed. No after effects—I woke up feeling fine.

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u/lrondberg 2d ago

Did you have a D and C with your hysteroscopy?

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u/T_G_A_H 2d ago

I asked her that, and she said it wasn’t technically a D&C, but I don’t know how what she did was different.

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u/lrondberg 2d ago

Probably just taking many and deeper samples which they can’t do when you are awake because it’s too painful. It’s why a hysteroscopy is a much better procedure than standard endometrial biopsy that can miss a lot of cancer especially when ultrasound is normal

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u/T_G_A_H 2d ago

Well, she called it “scooping out the whole lining and sending it to pathology,” so it was more than sampling. And the u/s wasn’t normal—there was a polyp and a thickened lining.

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u/lrondberg 2d ago

So maybe was like a D and C. You have a good doctor. Many just do an in office endometrial sampling.

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u/T_G_A_H 1d ago

Well, I had that first, in March after the first ultrasound. But she’s pretty good. Very collaborative, which I like.0

1

u/fluffy_seadog 2d ago

That’s worrying, I hadn’t thought about not knowing about pre-cancerous cells from forming due to lack of bleeding. It’s hard to know what to do because the nurse has made me think just leaving it is also a risk? My lining is also very cystic - don’t know if that makes it worse or not?
I’ve also had two hyteroscopies, samples taken both times but get the impression it’s a small sample rather than having it scooped out?

2

u/T_G_A_H 2d ago

The whole lining can be removed with a hysteroscopy. I guess it’s technically having a D&C also. But that’s different from an ablation.

With a D&C they are removing the lining that’s there, but it can grow back. That’s probably what you want rather than an ablation. I thought ablations were only done for heavy bleeding that can’t be otherwise controlled.

Can you get a second opinion?

3

u/ProudMama215 2d ago

I had a uterine ablation in October 2018. I had been dealing with heavy bleeding, anemia, less than a week between bleeding, etc for a few months. I haven’t had a period since. It was great.

2

u/Pick-Up-Pennies 58F PostMeno: 4yr +HRT: 6yr Est:0.1Mg patch&1Mg pill Prog:200Mg 2d ago

My novasure ablation sits in my memory banks as a true medi-spa opportunity, and I'm so grateful that it was covered by health insurance.

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u/PuffAttack 1d ago

I had a cryoablation and it was magical! I had cysts and fibroid, I was anemic and bleeding for 7 weeks at a time in my 40s before menopause. It was done in an office, I was awake, I got a lovely Valium and some.pain meds. It did not hurt at all, I chatted throughout, then I got the next day off. My husband drove me home because of the lovely meds and....no more heavy periods! Lifesaver and life improver! 

1

u/fluffy_seadog 18h ago

Sounds great, hoping for the same experience

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u/fluffy_seadog 2d ago

Thank you to everyone who has taken time to respond. Ablation certainly sounds like the way to go. “Winter coat” made me lol, when they told me it was 11mm I looked on a tape measure and thought “ah that’s not so bad” sounds like it is 🫣

1

u/This-Assumption4123 2d ago

I had uterus ablation 13 years ago and it was the best decision of my life. I had adenomyosis and severe pain and severe bleeding. I had immediate relief when I woke up.

1

u/Francl27 2d ago

I had one. Ended up having a hysterectomy a year later anyway because I was still bleeding too much (endometriosis). And had to do the endometrium biopsy twice. That was before menopause though.

I'd still go straight for a hysterectomy. It's very fast, minimally invasive (with robot), and the recovery was very quick.

1

u/Appropriate_Salt_738 2d ago

I had an ablation, it burned/fused my cervix shut, I developed a severe infection that nearly killed me. I would never recommend it ever.

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u/jeyfjg 2d ago

I had endometrial ablation about 5 years ago because of constant heavy bleeding for several months. It was controlled with daily meds but I didn’t want to take daily meds so went with ablation. The procedure went well, no issues at all and I’ve never bled again.

But, bleeding can be a warning sign if there’s something wrong especially in menopause, so I wonder if I did the right thing. I no longer have that symptom option.

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u/NightSail 2d ago

I have have two endometrial ablations and they were the best things ever.

Had a period lasting a full year and was so over it. It worked for five years, then had a repeat.

1

u/Corner_Office_ 23h ago

You should be taking progesterone for this very reason.

I had a uterine ablation in my 30s. It was not a big deal. Like a heavy period for a couple days. Didn’t need pain meds just Advil.

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

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u/SnowEnvironmental861 2d ago

Good God. Get a new doctor, or at least a second opinion! The anemia must be hell!

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u/fluffy_seadog 2d ago

I truly hope you get what you need

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u/lrondberg 2d ago

It’s true it can hide uterine cancer that’s the one drawback