Heavy and Painful Periods

Heavy bleeding is very common during menstruation, but very heavy periods or period that cause pain are abnormal. They can disrupt your quality of life and may be a sign of a more serious health problem. If your menstrual cycle is very heavy or gives you severe pain, reach out to an OB/GYN at one of our two Women’s Center offices.

What is considered “heavy bleeding”?

Any of the following symptoms should be evaluated by an Ogden Clinic gynecologist:

• Bleeding that lasts more than seven days
• Menstrual flow with blood clots larger than a quarter
• Needing to wear more than one pad at a time to control flow
• Changing your pad or tampon every hour or more for several hours in a row

How can NovaSure® or HTA™ endometrial ablation help with heavy bleeding and pain?

Ablation is an option for women who experience painful periods or heavy bleeding. Performed by an Ogden Clinic gynecologist, this procedure removes the tissue responsible for menstrual bleeding (called endometrium). After ablation, you may not bleed again, or your bleeding will be significantly reduced.

A NovaSure® or HTA™ endometrial ablation is a simple and safe procedure that removes uterine lining while preserving the uterus to reduce or eliminate bleeding. This one-time, in-office procedure is for premenopausal women who are finished childbearing. The ablation can lighten or end heavy periods, usually for the cost of a co-pay. For 90% of women, menstrual bleeding is dramatically reduced or stopped.

The ablation procedure is quick and nearly 90% of women return to normal, light, or no periods at all (40% reported that their periods stopped completely). Most women experience mild or no pain during or after the procedure. There are no incisions, no general anesthesia, and NovaSure® or HTA™ can be performed any time during your cycle.

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