Endometrial Ablation

What to expect

Endometrial ablation is an outpatient procedure. This means you'll go home the same day.

• You'll lie on a procedure table with your feet in stirrups, as for a pelvic exam.
• You'll receive a sedative to relax you through an intravenous (IV) line in your hand.
• Your provider will insert a speculum into your vagina so they can see your cervix. They'll inject numbing medication for pain relief.
• They'll insert a thin probe into your uterus. Once inside, it expands into a triangular-shaped mesh device that fits the size and shape of your uterus.
• The device sends radiofrequency energy into your uterine lining for about 90 seconds.
• Your provider pulls the mesh back into the probe and removes both from your uterus. Nothing stays inside your body after the procedure.

After your ablation

After a couple of hours of rest, you'll be able to go home.

You may experience:

• Nausea
• Cramping or mild pain.  THis can last a few hours or up to three days.  Over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen will help.
• Watery or bloody vaginal discharge.  It may start out pinkish, then become clear and watery.  This can last for several weeks.
• The feeling that you need to urinate more often than usual.  This usually lasts about a day.

You can return to work the day after your ablation.  You provider will tell you when you can resume having sex, douching, and using tampons.

If will take your body about three months to heal completely.  After that, you may have lighter periods or stop having periods.