My Endometrial Ablation Experience: 3.5 Years Later

A few women I know personally are currently considering having an endometrial ablation, and I’ve found myself unexpectedly talking about my endometrial ablation experience a lot in recent weeks.

I’ve written before—at considerable length—about my history with extremely heavy periods and how I ended up having an ablation. That post includes all the quasi-graphic details about menstrual cups, blood-loss measurements, low ferritin, iron infusions, unsuccessful attempts at hormonal birth control… and the IUD my body spontaneously expelled.

Today, I’m going to provide a much shorter version.

I had an endometrial ablation in February 2023. Three and a half years later, I have no regrets.

My periods didn’t stop entirely, but they are now very light and manageable.

For me, the procedure has been life-changing.

I am not a healthcare professional. This post describes my personal experience and should not be considered medical advice. Always discuss your symptoms and treatment options with your own healthcare provider.

What’s an Endometrial Ablation?

An endometrial ablation is a procedure that destroys the lining of the uterus with the goal of reducing heavy menstrual bleeding.

Some people stop having periods after an ablation. Some people continue to have periods, but their bleeding becomes considerably lighter. I fall into the latter category.

An ablation is not a hysterectomy—the uterus remains in place—and it is not a form of birth control. Pregnancy can still happen after an ablation and can be dangerous, so reliable contraception is still necessary. The procedure is intended for people who do not plan to become pregnant in the future.

You can find a more detailed medical explanation on the Mayo Clinic website.

What Was Recovery Like?

*GROSS OVERSHARING ALERT FOR THIS SECTION*

For me, the ablation procedure was a simple day surgery operation. I was admitted mid-afternoon, put under general anesthesia for the actual ablation, and was home that evening.

I took things easy for a few days. There was quite a bit of heavy cramping—and a lot of discharge—in the first few weeks. This was normal for the type of ablation I had, though there are several different methods and recovery experiences can vary.

I was told by the doctor not to use tampons or a menstrual cup because of the infection risk, so I had to rely on pads. It frequently felt like I was peeing myself, which was… gross. I would say this went on for about three weeks, but I had been walked through what to expect by the doctor ahead of time so I didn’t worry too much about it.

I’m going to go one step further in the TMI department, but I had to do some digging to find this information when I was going through my own recovery. I would compare the discharge most closely to the juice from raw chicken. Slightly pink, and very watery. There wasn’t much actual blood after a few days, but the discharge was constant and there was a lot of it.

Oh, and I suspect it goes without saying, but I was instructed not to have sex for several weeks after the procedure. The exact timeline varies, so this is something to confirm with your own doctor. Though, see above regarding the “raw chicken juice”—you’re probably not going to be feeling too frisky anyway.

Why Did I Have an Endometrial Ablation?

My periods were extremely heavy from the very beginning.

For years, I used a menstrual cup plus an overnight pad and would sometimes still leak through both. I routinely measured between 140 and 160 mL of blood per cycle using my cup, not including what leaked into pads.

I started taking iron supplements when I was fourteen. As an adult, my ferritin levels were repeatedly low, and I eventually needed a series of iron infusions.

Heavy periods also affected virtually every practical part of my life. We planned our wedding and almost every family vacation around my cycle. I always wanted to know where the nearest bathroom was and whether I could get home quickly. The lighthouse picture above might seem random, but I remember visiting this specific lighthouse with my family on the day this photo was taken and realizing I was leaking through EVERYTHING.

I tried various forms of hormonal birth control. Some caused continuous or breakthrough bleeding; others had a significant impact on my mood and how I felt physically.

I also tried an IUD. The insertion was excruciating, I bled or spotted almost constantly for a year and a half, and my body eventually expelled it.

By 2022, I was ready to have a hysterectomy. In fact, I was gowned and waiting to enter the operating room when I tested positive for COVID and the surgery was cancelled.

After consulting with another OB/GYN, I decided to try an endometrial ablation first. It was much less invasive, and because I had considerable scar tissue and bladder adhesion from two C-sections, it presented fewer risks in my particular situation.

You can read the complete story of my heavy periods and why I decided to have an endometrial ablation.

Did My Periods Stop After an Endometrial Ablation?

No.

For some people, an ablation eliminates periods completely. That did not happen for me.

A year after the procedure, I was still bleeding for five to seven days each month. The important difference was that I was losing a tiny fraction of the blood I had lost before surgery.

Now, three and a half years after my ablation, my periods are even lighter.

They do not dictate my schedule. I no longer arrange vacations and special events around my cycle. I am not constantly worried about leaks or trying to remain within sprinting distance of a bathroom.

It is difficult to overstate the difference this has made. At this point, I only need a menstrual cup—without a backup pad or even pantyliner!!—at this point which would have been completely and utterly unthinkable before.

Do I Regret Having an Endometrial Ablation?

Not at all.

Would I prefer never to have another period? Sure.

But eliminating my periods completely wasn’t the only possible definition of success. My real goal was to stop losing an extreme amount of blood every month and to prevent menstruation from controlling my life.

The ablation accomplished that.

I knew when I had the procedure that the improvement might not last until menopause. Heavy bleeding could eventually return, and I may still need a hysterectomy at some point.

For now, I’m not borrowing trouble.

I have already had three and a half years with very light, manageable periods. Even if I need another medical intervention eventually, that will not erase the value of the relief I have experienced.

What I Would Tell a Friend Considering an Ablation

The first thing I would say is that an ablation does not have to eliminate your periods to make an enormous difference.

I would also suggest asking your doctor:

• What’s causing my heavy bleeding?
• Am I a good candidate for an ablation?
• What outcome is realistic in my particular case?
• What are the risks and expected recovery?
• What contraception will I need afterward?
• What are my options if the heavy bleeding eventually returns?

Most importantly, I would remind a friend that my positive experience is only one experience.

I know women who have had excellent long-term results. I also know women who eventually needed hysterectomies.

My story is not a promise about what will happen in someone else’s body. But I remember how difficult it was to find detailed accounts from real people when I was weighing my options, and perhaps this will help someone feel a little less alone.

My Endometrial Ablation Results: The Short Version

When did I have an ablation? February 2023.

Did it stop my periods? No.

What was recovery like? There was quite a bit of cramping for the first few days—and a lot of discharge for the first few weeks.

What are my periods like now? Very light and manageable.

Has the bleeding increased again? No.

Do my periods still affect my daily decisions? Very little.

Do I regret having an endometrial ablation? Not for a second.

Your turn:

• Have you had an endometrial ablation? Is there anything you wish you had known beforehand?

Please only share what you feel comfortable discussing! Menstrual health can feel enormously isolating, and I hope this can be a kind and supportive place to talk about it.