Menstrual Surgery Options Available to Those Suffering from Menorrhagia
November 11th, 2011 | Published in Sexual Health
Women that suffer from menorrhagia are not only inconvenienced each month, they may experience pain, emotional turmoil and difficulty getting pregnant. Menorrhagia is excessively heaving bleeding during menstruation. It is believed that this is one of the most common menstrual disorder, but it is often hard to diagnose because measuring menstrual flow is difficult. Women may experience a variety of other symptoms as well, and sometimes the heavy flow is a symptom itself. It is more common amongst women suffering from fibroids or cysts on their reproductive organs, and there may be a link to obesity and menorrhagia. In severe cases of menorrhagia, a woman may choose menstrual surgery to cope with her condition.
What Is It?
There are different surgical procedures commonly associated with menorrhagia. Hysteroscopic surgery places a small telescopic instrument into the uterine cavity for examination. There are no incisions during the procedure and the tool is inserted through the vagina into the uterus. The doctor is able to remove scar tissue, polyps, and small fybroid tumors. This procedure stops or reduces menstrual flow and preserves fertility. It is safer than a traditional hysterectomy, and in most cases, has less side effects.
A second minimally invasive option is laparoscopic surgery. In this procedure a thin, fiber-optic tube with a tiny video camera on the end of it is inserted into the uterus through a small incision in the navel. It is then guided to the problem area. The surgeon then inserts tiny surgical instruments through another small incision to perform the operation.
A third form of surgery, which is known as Uterine Balloon Ablation, or roller ball surgery, destroys the uterine lining of women that suffer excessive blood flow. It is an outpatient procedure, and many women experience only minor cramping as a result of the surgery. Some require only a 24 hour recovery period and most are back to a relatively normal life within a week. It is necessary to refrain from exercise and strenuous activity for 3-4 weeks. This procedure does carry the risk of sterility, but if someone intends to be sterile following the procedure, it is recommended that a tubal ligation be performed simultaneously.
Who Needs It?
Women that suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding are prime candidates for the surgery. While menorrhagia is not often a dangerous condition, severe cases of it can lead to anemia. Women suffering from fibroids and polyps are also candidates for the procedure. In the case of hysteroscopy surgery, women that still have a desire to conceive will most often be recommended for that procedure in lieu of other options.
Benefits
The major benefit of menstrual surgery is that more often than not, it will put an end to the condition. Women that suffer from a variety of menstrual disorders will benefit from surgery. The effects of suffering from fibroids, polyps and scar tissue can be limiting and unpleasant. Women may see a boost in their sex lives, confidence, and overall health once they have remedied the menstrual disorder that was plaguing them.
The majority of the non-invasive procedures is that there is minimal recovery time and many women are able to return home the same day. There is less pain and because there are no incisions, the risk of infection may be reduced as well.
Risks
Aside from the typical risks of surgery, such as a negative or severe reaction to anesthesia, menstrual surgery holds limited risk. There is some danger to the uterus, as any time instruments are inserted near tender tissue, the patient could suffer perforation. This, or other poor reactions, could lead to sterility. Some women desire sterility when having the operation, but young women that want their reproductive organs to remain functional should understand there are risks associated with the procedure. Granted, women that opt to undergo menstrual surgery often find it difficult to get pregnant due to their pre-existing conditions. Surgery may be the only hope a woman has for conceiving, and she is willing to accept the risk.
The options for women suffering from menorrhagia or other menstrual disorders are varied and safe. Depending upon a woman’s age, condition, and desire to have children, she and her doctor will choose the procedure that will work best for her. If you believe you have a condition that could be remedied through menstrual surgery, discuss your options with your doctor as soon as possible.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate health care provider.
Kelly Brown is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a or more articles at Yodle Consumer Guide.
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