Heavy periods plague more women than you might think.Women are constantly battling with their menstrual cycles.Whether it’s heavy bleeding, excessive cramps, or depression and fatigue, many women struggle to maintain their day-to-day lives while experiencing extreme cycles.
But what many women do not know is that this extreme menstrual cycle is a condition known as abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) or menorrhagia, with one in four women suffering from AUB.
In the past, thermoablation was the only option for women, which meant heavy scarring. Now there is cryoablation, a procedure that can be done within the office instead of in the hospital.
Cryoablation uses sub-zero temperatures to reduce or eliminate the uterine lining.The cold temperatures freeze the lining, and with the uterine lining reduced or eliminated, there’s less tissue to shed each period.The result means dramatically less menstrual bleeding for women, along with minimal scarring, no need for hormonal supplements, and high success rate.
The natural analgesic affect of these low temperatures also reduces patient discomfort during the procedure. Plus, ultrasound guidance during the procedure lets your doctor monitor the therapy as it happens, offering an additional level of safety.
Women are fortunate to have cryoablation as an option now. In a 12-minute office procedure, 90 percent of patients can have a lighter cycle and 50 percent of patients close to 50 years old lose their cycle altogether. Cryoablation is a great alternative to a hysterectomy. Women who seek to reduce, if not eliminate, menstrual cycles altogether and are finished having children should consider this healthy alternative.
Compared with hormones to lighten the cycle, which holds risks of breast cancer and increased risks of high blood pressure and stroke, and hysterectomy, which has a six-week recovery time, giving cryo a chance just makes sense.
Dr. Rebecca Cipriano is a board certified OB/GYN at Healthy Woman OB/GYN.The practice has offices at 312 Professional Drive, Building 300, Freehold Township, and 340 Route 34, Suite D-2, Colts Neck. For more information, call 732-431-1616 or visit www.healthywomanusa.com.