Women's Health
Discover how Main Line Health provides comprehensive and compassionate care for women in all stages of life.
Endometrial Ablation
What is endometrial ablation?
Endometrial ablation is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that can help fix excessive uterine bleeding. During ablation, the lining of the uterus, called endometrium, disintegrates. This helps minimize and manage heavy bleeding from your menstrual flow.
Who needs endometrial ablation?
You might be a good candidate for this procedure if you have:
- Irregular or bothersome vaginal bleeding
- Heavy menstrual bleeding or periods that last longer than 8 days
- Anemia caused by excessive blood loss
Endometrial ablation is typically not recommended if you have:
- A history of uterine cancer or are at increased risk of uterine cancer
- An active pelvic infection
- A desire to become pregnant in the future
What to expect
The endometrial ablation process is very quick, usually lasting less than two minutes, and is very safe.
During surgery, you’ll first be given a light general anesthetic or local cervical block and then dilate your cervix. To perform the ablation, your doctor may use an electrically conductive mesh or a wand delivering an infusion of heated water.
After surgery
Endometrial ablation is usually performed outpatient, meaning you can go home the same day. For two to three days, you might experience cramps, vaginal discharge and/or frequent urination.
Most women’s symptoms improve remarkably several months after having endometrial ablation. If your symptoms don’t improve, you can choose to explore other options with your provider.
Possible risks
As with any type of surgery, there are risks to be aware of before undergoing endometrial ablation, including:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Accidental injury to nearby organs
Gynecology
Whether you’re seeing us for common gynecological problems or seeking out advanced therapies and the very best surgical expertise, our physicians, board-certified are here for in gynecology, are here for you every stage of your life from adolescence through the childbearing years into menopause and beyond.