Where do I sign up?

Sounds scary. But I think anything that completely makes your period go away (short of tubal ligation) is messed up. Sure it sucks, but it happens for a reason.

Yeah, it happens so you can be fertile and have kids. Not all of us want kids.

Well, I don't want kids either, but I do want signals from my body telling me that I'm well. Having a regular menstrual cycle is one of those signals.

We really get more periods now than we used to... we start menstruating earlier, we live much longer, and we don't spend as much time pregnant. ... we really aren't 'meant' to have this many periods in our lifetimes.

I'll just keep the period.

After having my uterus 'tugged on' and 'scraped' by my GYN to see if I had cancer, I can definitely say that I don't want anything else being done to it!

Compared to the 22 hours of labor I went through (WITHOUT DRUGS), I'd take the labor again over tampering with my uterus. *nods*

Sign me up!!

I've had this done, but not because I wanted my periods to stop. My OB/GYN suggested it as a way to rid myself of terrible cramping and excessive bleeding. Since I had already had my tubes tied, I went for it. The majority of women I know that have had this procedure still get periods. I've always been irregular and I still get mine even after having this done. In fact, I often have two periods in a row now, a week apart, although my doctor says that the second is actually just spotting. (FYI - having your tubes tied does not stop you from menstrating.)

One thing I'd like to mention is that this procedure isn't possible for every woman and your doctor won't know for sure if you are a good candidate for it until you are prepped. I saw my doctor last week for my yearly and she said that she recently had a woman whose uterus just wasn't shaped right for any of the methods used for the ablation. In fact, she had difficulty doing mine as well.

Just wanted to add my experience to the discussion.

My girlfriend had it due to her periods being so heavy that every month it was pure misery to have to bring a change of clothes because it was worse than a horror flick. For her, it was the best thing EVER and I don't blame her one bit. She's done having kids so this was a great option for her (as opposed to the other option presented by her GYN for a hysterectomy).

I'm planning on talking to by OB/GYN about the procedure and it's impact on cramps. I typically take continuous BCP to avoid having a period due to dehabilitating cramps. And, one issue I've been struggling with is what I'm going to do after the new baby is born - phasic BCP isn't an option while breastfeeding, but based upon my experience with my son, breastfeeding didn't stay my period all that long. I'm terrified of having to go through the pain of cramps again. So, I'm willing to look into this as an option if it will reduce or eliminate the cramps.

I don't have a problem if someone wants to do it. There's lot of medical reasons to have the procedure.

I think the appeal of not having frequent/heavy periods is obvious, but is it safe to do this? If you do want to have kids later in life, wouldn't this affect your chances... since the egg has to nest in that blood lining of the uterus?

the big question is, though, and I don't know why you didn't answer this up there, can you still have kids if you have it?

otherwise, though, yes, do want.

Jenni_po: my understanding is that only women who are done having children or do not intend on having children will proceed with the procedure because it will essentially render the person unable to have children. Similar to choosing to have tubes tied, etc. I also understand that not having a period has no detrimental physical impact to a woman, and actually can be *good* (sorry 9th month preggo brain in full effect here) for people with severe blood loss that results in low iron levels, etc.

Basically, its just burning the wall of the uterus causing scar tissue that prevents or limits the development of the lining. Are there long term issues with the scar tissue? Humm, I don't know.

There's still a chance you could get pregnant after having the procedure, but if you did you'd be highly at risk for birth defects. Birth control is still suggested.

it's my understanding that this procedure is NOT recommended for women who plan to have children in the future.

My obgyn suggested this because she couldn't figure out why I was bleeding 20-25 days a month. She knew I wasn't sure if I wanted to have children or not, but still suggested a procedure that would probably make me infertile. I was pretty appalled that she suggested it, rather than looking into other reasons for the excessive bleeding.

Beth, I would be appalled by that too!!!

ok so if you have this done it only affects the bleeding and cramping but doesn't mess with your hormones? Because I get bad menstrual migraines and if this could prevent that, heck yes.

I had my tubes tied after my 2nd c-section and when I got my period (after breastfeeding for a year), it was horrible. I am a runner and run in half marathons frequently and missed several races because of my heavy period and horrible cramping. Because I was finished having children and technically no longer needed my period, I had this procedure done. The procedure my doc used s called Novasure (novasure.com if you want more info.) and it has been fabulous! I have freedom again. I am no longer bound by my period and I am forever thankful that a friend told me about it!

No it doesn't mess with your hormones. I still get PMS, much reduced symptoms, but no period. As for the procedure, it was easy and the next day I was fine. I went on a hike with my 3 year old!

No place to vote other!

I have considered this because I am a bring-a-change-of-clothes-when-it's-that-time kind of gal, but birth control makes it at least bearable, and I'd want to be on the pill for my skin anyways.

(I'm surprised to see this referred to as new because it's been around for a few years.)

I control my periods with hormonal birth control, which works well for me (sometimes I just skip my periods completely), but after I have a kid, or decide kids aren't for me, I would definitely consider this. I'm lucky HBC works for me, because before I was on it, I missed work about once a month because of the painfulness of my periods!

It's kind of funny that we live in a society where people change the shape of their noses, get fake hips, heart transplants, take diet pills and get gastric bypass surgery but when it comes to messing with your period all of a sudden there is a "reason" we have to have our periods, even though, as runningesq pointed out, hundreds of years ago women didn't have as many periods. And oh yeah, died in childbirth lived until they were 40 or 50. Not to sound all angry with the patriarchy, but is it really surprising that something that would tinker with the female reproductive system is met with a comment like "there is a reason we have periods"? Sure they are useful to show you aren't pregnant, but beyond that, it is even more useful for me not to miss work!

Interesting, snowbunny --- I never thought of it that way but it makes complete sense. Lips that look like they were attacked by a hive of bees, boobs the size of watermelons, men in their 90s getting erections... and that's all "normal" but god forbid I use BC to skip my period

no thank you.... i'm on bc and that's bad enough. But I need this procedure to be common place for at least a few decades. I dont trust this.

I do like the fact that I can stop my cycle without being on the pill but I don't think I want to have a surgical procedure for something that is supposed to come naturally.

... As opposed to using birth control to stop pregnancy, which is supposed to come naturally?

I would totally sign on for this! I do not want kids and am tired of having periods (even though i only have about 4 a year, kudos to Seasonique thank goodness). I'm going to have to do some more research on this. Thanks Fit, I'd never heard of this!

Nope, not for me. My problem is with PMS, brought on by hormonal fluctuations. I have no problems with my period. For me, when my period arrives, it marks the end of my PMS. Physically and psychologically, I'm back to normal (aside from the bleeding, of course). The bleeding is a walk in the park, compared to my terrible PMS.

I would be interested in eliminating my PMS, not my period.

I was told by a catholic friend that she couldn't do it because it's considered a form of permanent abortion (similar to an IUD). Since you still ovulate, an egg can still be fertilized, but it can't implant so you can conceive, but you don't stay pregnant. For that reason, I don't think I could do it. I'm not catholic, but I don't believe that post-conception birth control is right in my faith.

iiee_grrl - I was thinking about that same issue. However, I think many people who have had the procedure couple it with another form of permanent birth control like having their tubes tied or their partner having the big "V."

Ironically, DH and I were having this very discussion yesterday in relation to the pill, since it utilizes the thinning of the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation as a "back-up" to the prevention of ovulation.

For those where this is an issue, yah, that's something definitely something to consider, but it's not insurmountable either.

This sounds interesting. Someday after I have children I could possibly consider it. But all the problems I have once a month have been passed down from my mom. And once she had her first child her periods became tollerable.

Three of my friends have had this done and they love it, but they were all done having children. Personally I wouldn't have it done, but that's just me and my opinion on my body.

no - i wouldn't get this. as much as i don't like getting my period when it actually comes, i don't think that it's right to have a procedure like this done. if nature didn't want us to menstruate then i think that we would have evolved differently.

..:rotlf:...i had the surgury! what they DON'T tell you is that after 5-10 years, your period COMES BACK!!!! its nice for the time being, i do tend to spot occasionally tho. and i had the sugury about 5 years ago.

and yes you can can get preggo, but it usually result in a tubal pregnancy

I would never do this, I want kids in the future and would be nervous of something going wrong, but my mom had to have a partial hysterectomy (after 5 kids) because of heavy bleeding, so this would have been better than that!!

I don't know, it just sounds creepy to me. Unnatural, really. I can completely understand this procedure for women with heavy bleeding, etc, but otherwise, how much more are we going to do to ourselves, and still consider us human? We won't bleed, we won't cry, everything is becoming artificial. I'd much rather keep my periods as they are.

I hate my period like most but isn't this a bit extreme?!

Having lost my period to anorexia, I'd like to just add my personal experience to the discussion.

For me, there is absolutely nothing that matches how unnatural and wrong it felt to not have my period. I've been on birth control for years because my PMS was horrible and I would bleed for like 3 weeks at a time, so you'd think that it would be a relief to get a break from it, but it's awful. It feels very much like something very important has been taken away. I had no idea my period would be so closely tied to my sense of self.

Of course, I imagine it would be different if you've made the choice to stop your period. But even thinking about it, now that I've finally started my period again, makes me cringe.

i havent had a regular period in almost 3 years... the doctors dont know what it is.. at first i thot it was the 30 lb weight loss from my eating disorder.. but i've recovered from all that... and i still dont get it.. i've been on a regular birth control for 7 years.. and its not regulating... anyone know what it might be>?

I'd get it. In a New York Minute.

freakshow, a tubal ligation does not stop your period. It doesn't even affect your cycle.

That said, count me in as an "I'd have it!" for this surgery.

I am scheduled to have my ablation on 2/11/09. My issue is mostly with menstrual migraines, which put me down for the count at least 4 days during my period. I have 2 aunts that have had this procedure - one 4-5 years ago and the other 2 1/2 years ago. Both report a significant reduction in migraines and no bleeding after the initial recovery time. I'm not sure I totally understand the logic of some posters thinking that it's unnatural to have this done. Is it any more "natural" to use birth control pills? I'm choosing a physical solution to my problem, rather than a chemical one. I don't have a problem screwing with "Mother Nature", as I figure she's been screwing with me for decades.

I just wanted to say that this article spurred me having my own endometrial ablation. I was searching the internet for birth control that also stopped periods. I found this specific article and thought, "WOW! They can really do that??", so as I was thinking of getting my tubes tied anyhow, I printed out a copy of this exact article and brought it into my doctor and said, "Can we do this?"

He said absolutely, since I was wanting to go in for the tubal he said let's do both at the same time! So I went in for both on April 13th (about 2 months ago), and it was very quick and easy. The first day was the worst, with cramps that easily mimicked labor pains (I have had one child previously, 11 years ago), but that was easily controlled with pain medication.

After the first 3 days, there was no more spotting or cramping at all. And the best part...? I haven't had a period or any spotting since! yay!!! So thank you for writing this article that allowed me to change my life!

I am going to look into this, I have had my kids, (5 c-sections). I had a freezing done on it little over a year ago, it took my periods down to about 3 days one being really heavy and the rest just little bit, But now they are back full force. I am tired on the PMS and HEAVY periods, I wish not to have it any more, At the age of 42 I dont think I need it any more.

Oh wanted to add also that I had my tubes tied already after my last child, And for all of you that wonder, yes you still have Your periods and pms, Just stops the eggs from reaching where they need to. LOL
Good luck to all.