|
You're suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding; your doctor calls
it menorrhagia. You don't really care what it's called, as long
as it can be resolved. Today, an exciting new break-through offers you
a treatment that is at once quick, simple, safe and complete. The NovaSure™
Impedance Controlled Endometrial Ablation System features rapid treatment
time, excellent safety record, no required pre-treatment, high
success rate, and fast recovery time. This is a treatment that can finally
stop the heavy bleeding so that you can go on with your life.
| What is menorrhagia? |
 |
|
Menorrhagia is excessive menstrual bleeding. If your bleeding lasts seven
or more days per cycle, or is so excessive that you need to change protection
nearly every hour, you may have menorrhagia. Only your doctor can tell
you for sure.
Women suffering from menorrhagia can experience fatigue, anemia, embarrassing
accidents, and restricted activity. If you're familiar with these
effects, you know that menorrhagia can disrupt your life.
And you are not alone. About 1 in 5 women experience unusually heavy
menstrual bleeding. And there are now more treatment options available
to you.
| What are the treatment options? |
|
|
Drug therapy
is typically the first treatment option, consisting of oral contraceptives
or other hormones that treat hormonal imbalances. This therapy is effective
only about 50% of the time, and usually must be continued in order to
remain effective. Some women experience undesirable side effects, including
headaches, weight gain, and nausea.
Dilation and curettage (D & C) is frequently the second option
if drug therapy is ineffective. It is a common surgical procedure that
involves scraping of the inside of the uterus. However, for the majority
of women with menorrhagia, it's only a temporary solution that reduces
bleeding for a few cycles.
Endometrial ablation
- If you do not plan to have any more children, your doctor may suggest
minimally invasive surgical treatment options. Several methods are currently
available:
– Conventional
endometrial ablation removes the lining of the uterus with an electrosurgical
tool or laser. This method effectively reduces bleeding in approximately
85% of patients, and most women return to work within 3 days. Risks include
perforation of the uterus, bleeding, infection, or even heart failure
due to fluids used to open up or distend the uterus.
– A new generation
of endometrial ablation devices is now available. Some devices destroy
the endometrium by using heated fluid. Others use freezing temperatures
to destroy the tissue. Recently, the NovaSure™
System, which uses a precisely controlled dose of energy, was made available
for use in the U.S.
Hysterectomy
or surgical removal of the uterus is the only definitive treatment for
menorrhagia. Hysterectomy is a major procedure, performed in the hospital
under general anesthesia, and is accompanied by surgical risks, hospitalization,
and, depending on the technique used, a recovery period of up to 6 weeks.
| What is the NovaSure™
System? |
|
|
The NovaSure™
System provides an effective and minimally invasive outpatient alternative
to hysterectomy, while avoiding the potential side effects and long-term
risks of drug therapy. The patented NovaSure™
System is a next-generation endometrial ablation device that delivers
precisely measured electrical energy via a slender, hand-held device to
remove the endometrial lining.
This quick, simple
to schedule procedure requires no incisions, can be performed in an office
or outpatient setting, and generally takes less than five minutes to perform.
This is significantly shorter than any other endometrial ablation procedure.
| What can I expect with the NovaSure™
procedure? |
|
|
Most women will see
a significant reduction in the level of their menstrual bleeding. In randomized,
controlled clinical studies of the NovaSure™
System, over 91% of patients returning for follow-up at 12 months had
their bleeding reduced to light or moderate periods, and 41% reported
that their bleeding had stopped completely. Many women may also experience
meaningful added benefits: 63% of women treated with the NovaSure™
System experienced a reduction in dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation),
and 45% had a reduction in PMS symptoms.
| Am I a candidate for the NovaSure™
procedure? |
|
|
Pre-menopausal women with heavy menstrual bleeding who have completed childbearing
may be candidates for the NovaSure™
procedure. Dr. Eich may perform diagnostic tests to rule out other
abnormal uterine conditions, and your Pap smear and biopsy must be normal.
| How does the NovaSure™
System work? |
|
|
The application of energy is intended to permanently remove the endometrium
(lining of the uterus), to reduce or eliminate future bleeding. Here's
a look at how the procedure is performed:
 Your
doctor will slightly dilate your
cervix and insert a slender wand
through the cervix into the uterus.
 The
doctor then extends the triangular
mesh device through the wand where
it expands to conform to the dimensions
of your uterine cavity.
 Electrical
energy is then delivered into
the uterus on average for approximately
90 seconds.
 The
triangular mesh device is then
retracted back into the wand and
removed from the uterus.
NO PART OF THE MEDICAL DEVICE REMAINS INSIDE THE UTERUS AFTER THE PROCEDURE.
The NovaSure™
procedure is performed with local anesthesia (with or without IV sedation)
or general anesthesia, depending on the surgeon's recommendation.
After the NovaSure™
procedure, you may spend approximately 2 hours recovering before being
sent home.
Watch a
video
animation of the NovaSure procedure.
| What are the benefits of the NovaSure™
procedure? |
|
|
It's quick, simple,
safe, and requires no endometrial pre-treatment. Prior to other
endometrial ablation procedures, patients often need to take a pre-treatment
drug such as Lupron® for 1 to 2 months to thin the lining of the uterus.
The NovaSure™ procedure eliminates
the cost, potential side effects, and delays in treatment commonly associated
with endometrial pre-treatment. The NovaSure™
procedure is also much more convenient because the treatment can
be performed at any time during your cycle, even during your period.
Along with excellent
success rates, many patients also enjoy a meaningful reduction
of PMS symptoms, and a significant reduction in dysmenorrhea or
painful menstruation.
| What will I feel during the NovaSure™
procedure? |
|
|
Many doctors choose
for their patients to be awake during the procedure, as the NovaSure™
procedure does not require general anesthesia. When Dr. Eich is
able to perform the procedure with a local anesthetic injected in and
around the cervix, he or she may administer an intravenous sedative to
make you more comfortable during the procedure. While some women may feel
slight, menstrual-like cramping, some may not experience any discomfort
at all during the procedure.
| What discomforts can I expect after having
an endometrial ablation procedure? |
|
|
The following are some of the post-operative discomforts associated with
any endometrial ablation procedure.
You may experience
some post-operative uterine cramping and discomfort shortly after the
procedure, which can generally be treated with mild pain medication such
as Ibuprofen (e.g., Advil® or Motrin®).
Some patients may experience nausea and vomiting as a result of the anesthesia.
Watery and/or bloody discharge after an endometrial ablation is also common
for several weeks after the procedure.
| Are there any post-procedure complications? |
|
|
You should call
Dr. Eich if you develop a fever higher than 100.4°F,
worsening pelvic pain that is not relieved by ibuprofen or other medication
prescribed by Dr. Eich, nausea, vomiting, bowel or bladder problems,
and/or a greenish vaginal discharge.
| Are women satisfied with the results of the
NovaSure™
procedure? |
|
|
Excellent results
have led to very high satisfaction rates among patients treated with the
NovaSure™ System. According to results
of a patient satisfaction survey, over 92% of patients treated with the
NovaSure™ System were satisfied
or very satisfied with the procedure 12 months after treatment, and 95%
indicated that they would recommend the NovaSure™
procedure to a friend.
| What risks are associated with the NovaSure™
procedure? |
|
|
Dr. Eich will explain the surgical risks of all treatment options
in detail. Some of the risks of endometrial ablation procedures are perforation
of the uterus, bleeding, infection, injury to organs within the abdomen
and pelvis, and accumulation of blood within the uterus due to scarring.
A possible hazard may exist for women with cardiac pacemakers or other
active implants.
Another rare, but important, risk of any endometrial ablation procedure
is that it may decrease your doctor's ability to make an early diagnosis
of cancer of the endometrium. The reason for this is that one of the warning
signs of endometrial cancer is bleeding, and endometrial ablation procedures
decrease or eliminate bleeding.
| Can I still become pregnant after endometrial
ablation? |
|
|
It is important to know that although the chances for pregnancy are reduced
following an endometrial ablation procedure, it is still possible to become
pregnant.
However, pregnancy following endometrial ablation is very dangerous for
both the mother and the fetus. You should not have the NovaSure™
procedure if you think you want to have a baby in the future.
You should use some form of birth control if you decide to have endometrial
ablation. Please discuss these options with Dr.
Eich.
Lupron is a registered
trademark of TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc.
Advil is a registered trademark of Whitehall-Robins Healthcare.
Motrin is a registered trademark of McNeil Consumer Healthcare.
NovaSure and Novacept are trademarks of Novacept, Inc.
|
