If you’re constantly packing extra pads and tampons or worried about staining your clothes, you might be dealing with heavy menstrual bleeding. The good news? There’s a quick, nearly painless procedure that could stop it for good.

Endometrial ablation is a minimally invasive treatment that removes the uterine lining to significantly reduce or eliminate periods. Unlike a hysterectomy, which involves removing the uterus and cervix, ablation preserves your organs and doesn’t require long recovery times or hormonal birth control.

“Ninety percent of women who undergo endometrial ablation are thrilled with the results,” says Dr. Valerie Lasry, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Tidelands Health OB/GYN locations in Georgetown and Murrells Inlet. 

Endometrial ablation uses heat to destroy the uterine lining. The procedure takes about 90 seconds and is typically done in an outpatient setting. Most patients experience only mild cramping afterward.

Endometrial ablation is not recommended for women who:

• Want to become pregnant in the future
• Have an abnormally shaped uterus
• Have fibroids that distort the uterine lining

Before the procedure, your physician will perform tests such as a Pap smear, pelvic ultrasound, endometrial biopsy and hysteroscopy to help determine if you’re a good candidate.

Heavy bleeding can have a lot of causes. Women who have hormonal imbalances such as polycystic ovary syndrome, who have fibroids or who are premenopausal could notice changes in their period. Heavy bleeding can also be a symptom of cervical cancer in some cases.

No matter what the cause, it’s worth talking to your physician about ablation if your periods are getting in the way.

“It’s a great way to stop your periods and restore your quality of life,” Dr. Lasry says.