Sussex Premier Health, Hastings: Important update for patients with upcoming appointments
Sussex Premier Health, Hastings: Important update for patients with upcoming appointments
Treats excessively heavy bleeding by removing the womb lining
Significant bleeding during periods can leave you at risk of anaemia. Doctors may recommend endometrial ablation surgery (removing the lining of your womb) if other treatments for heavy periods have failed.
The operation is usually performed under a general anaesthetic but rarely requires an overnight hospital stay.
Same day discharge –
1 night
General
Yes
30 minutes
Yes
You’ll meet your consultant in one of our private consultation rooms, during this time you will be able to explain your medical history symptoms and raise any concerns that you might have.
We will also discuss with you whether any further diagnostic tests, such as scans or blood tests, are needed. Any additional costs will be discussed before further tests are carried out.
We will discuss the range of methods available for removing the womb lining and whether you’ll have a general or local anaesthetic. Depending on your age and circumstances they’ll also talk to you about your future family plans if you have any.
On the day of your operation, our ward staff will show you to your own private room. Your private room will have an en-suite bathroom and TV and Wi-Fi facilities.
It is likely that you will be asleep during surgery following a general anaesthetic. However some women, following discussions with their consultant, have a local anaesthetic. This means you are awake but do not feel any pain.
Your consultant will insert a hysterscope (a long thin telescope) through your vagina and into the cervix so they can see your womb. They’ll then use one of a range of small surgical instruments to destroy or remove the womb lining in a procedure typically lasting 30 minutes.
After your procedure, you will be taken to your room where you can rest and recuperate until we feel you’re ready to go home.
Once you’re ready to be discharged from hospital, you’ll need to arrange for a friend or family member to take you home as you won’t be able to drive.
For guidance on pain relief and your recovery time, please see our patient information sections below.
Heavy periods are not just difficult to manage from a psychological and practical perspective.
Losing a significant amount of blood on a monthly basis (menorrhagia) can affect your physical health. It may reduce the number of red blood cells in your bloodstream, leading to anaemia and its symptoms of tiredness and a general feeling of being unwell.
Your doctors may recommend endometrial ablation surgery if other treatments, including medication, have not eased your periods and the level of bleeding.
Your expert consultant might use a variety of techniques to destroy (ablate) part of the womb lining (or endometrium).
It is likely that you will be able to go home on the same day.
However the procedure probably won’t be recommended for you if your excessive bleeding is caused by fibroids (growths in your womb) or if you may want to have children in the future.
The procedure generally takes around 30 minutes and is usually conducted under a general anaesthetic (so you will be asleep). Most techniques involve inserting a thin telescope through the vagina and into the cervix to give your consultant a view of the womb. He or she uses surgical instruments to destroy or remove the womb lining.
At Sussex Premier Health, your surgery will be performed by your consultant surgeon.
You will have some period-like abdominal pain for 24 to 48 hours after your operation. Ordinary over the counter painkillers should be enough to control the pain.
You will usually have vaginal bleeding for a few days but this should lessen and become a heavy discharge. This may last three to four weeks. Use sanitary towels rather than tampons to reduce the risk of infection.
We advise that you do not have sex until any vaginal bleeding or discharge has stopped.
You’ll probably feel up to work again after a few days but that depends on your job – you might need longer if you do physically demanding work.
More than a third of women who have this operation stop having periods. Others find that their periods become lighter. It can take up to three months to see whether the operation has been successful. Some women need to have the procedure repeated.
On rare occasions, complications following treatment can occur. If you experience severe pain in your lower abdomen or heavy bleeding, please call us straight away.
The chance of complications depends on the exact type of operation you are having and other factors such as your general health.
Your consultant will talk to you about the possible risks and complications of having this procedure and how they apply to you.
You can call and speak to a member of the nursing team at any time, please call 01424 757459.
Speak to a member of our team
01424 757400 
info@sussexpremierhealth.com 
01424 757400