new options for women

By Tripta Dass

At least one in five women in New York and across the country suffers from a lifestyle-restricting condition, and most do not seek treatment. Problem periods, characterized by heavy, prolonged bleeding, cause major lifestyle changes and impact a woman’s quality of life. Many women who suffer from heavy periods, also called menorrhagia, don’t recognize that this condition is a known and treatable problem that they should discuss with their physician.

Traditionally, women with heavy periods were offered treatments ranging from the least invasive, drug therapy, to the most invasive, hysterectomy. However, for women with problem periods caused by benign reasons, some of the least invasive treatments often prove ineffective – hormone therapy is effective less than 50 percent of the time, for example. Additionally, a significant portion of women, such as those suffering from endometriosis, are contraindicated for hormone therapy, while others can not tolerate its side effects. Hysterectomy remains a major surgical procedure, requires anesthesia, and may entail up to six weeks of recovery for complete recuperation.

Today, physicians have safe, effective, and fast alternatives for women with problem periods who have completed their families. Treatments such as endometrial ablation, which removes the lining of the uterus, are changing women’s lives. In May 2007, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued revised guidelines about who should be considered for endometrial ablation. They suggest that endometrial ablation is an appropriate first-line treatment for women with “patient-perceived heavy menstrual bleeding.”

One of my patients, Chris Cobb, began experiencing heavier periods four years ago. A mother of three and legal secretary, Chris’s cycle sometimes lasted two weeks at a time, forcing her to repeatedly miss work. She thought this all was part of getting older and resigned herself to “just dealing with it.” Finally, after calling in sick to work yet again, Chris decided that she could not let her period ruin her life.

Chris suffered from heavy periods that affected both her professional and personal life for several years. I suggested she try a product called the NovaSure System, the most widely used endometrial ablation technique, as an alternative to a hysterectomy. The treatment has a high patient satisfaction rate, with 95 percent of women experiencing a significant reduction in bleeding. Chris decided to move forward with it right away and had the procedure in my office in late 2007. She returned to work the next morning and now has a very light period.

If you have heavy periods that prevent you from doing the things you love, talk to your gynecologist—fast, easy treatment options are available and can quite literally change your life. The solution Chris chose is an outpatient procedure that can be performed in less than two minutes, with local anesthesia, right in the physician’s office. For additional information, talk to your gynecologist or visit www.aboutheavyperiods.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Tripta Dass is a Board Certified OB/Gyn and practices at Penfield Obstetrics & Gynecology.  For more information, contact Dr. Dass at (585) 377-5420.