What is NovaSure?
NovaSure is a one-time, five minute procedure that can lighten or end your heavy period. No pills. No hormonal side effects. For 90% of women, menstrual bleeding is dramatically reduced or stopped. It’s a simple procedure that can be done in your doctor’s office, usually for the cost of a copay.
Benefits of the NovaSure procedure:
- One-time procedure
- The procedure is quick – usually less than five minutes
- It can be performed in a doctor’s office with no general anesthesia
- 90% of women returned to normal, light, or no periods at all
- 40% reported that their periods stopped completely
- Most women experience mild or no pain during or after procedure
- Most women feel back to themselves within a day or so
- There are no incisions (an incision is a cut into your body)
- It can be performed at any time during your cycle, even if you’re bleeding
- You don’t need to prepare by taking any pre-treatment medicine
Disadvantages:
- Only appropriate for women who have completed childbearing
- Requires anesthesia: local or general
- Non-reversible – lose fertility
- Risk of complications associated with minimally invasive procedure
How does NovaSure work?
NovaSure is an endometrial ablation (EA) procedure that can reduce or stop menstrual bleeding. It works by permanently removing the endometrium, or the lining of the uterus (the part that causes the bleeding), with a quick delivery of radio frequency energy.
Your doctor will:
- Slightly open your cervix (the opening to the uterus), inserts a slender wand, and extends a triangular mesh device into the uterus
- The mesh will expand, fitting the size and shape of your uterus
- Precisely measured radio frequency energy is delivered through the mesh for about 90 seconds
- The mesh device is pulled back into the wand, and both are removed from the uterus
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is NovaSure right for me?
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Women with heavy or long-lasting periods who do not wish to have children in the future may be candidates for the NovaSure procedure. Your doctor can decide if NovaSure is right for you. But if you’re sure you don’t want any children in the future, and you’re doctor rules out more serious causes of heavy bleeding, you may be a good candidate for the NovaSure procedure.
Can I still become pregnant after the procedure?
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Because NovaSure treats the lining of the uterus, your chances of getting pregnant after the procedure will be reduced. However, it is possible to get pregnant if you’re sexually active. A pregnancy after an ablation is very dangerous for both the mother and the fetus, since the uterine lining would not be able to properly support fetal development. It’s very important to talk to your doctor about what birth control you will use after the NovaSure procedure.
What can I expect after the NovaSure procedure?
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Immediately after the NovaSure procedure, some women may experience some cramping, mild pain, nausea, and/or vomiting. Most women feel back to themselves and can resume normal activities within a day or so. Be sure to follow any instructions from your doctor, no matter how good you’re feeling. A watery and/or bloody discharge following the NovaSure procedure is normal. It could start anywhere from immediately after the procedure to a couple of weeks afterwards. The discharge may last only briefly, or for up to a couple of months. It could even come and go, increasing after certain activities. This is quite normal and can be expected with any endometrial ablation procedure.
If the following statements apply to you, contact your doctor about NovaSure:
- My period affects my quality of life
- I am bothered by the amount of bleeding or the pain that I have during my period
- My period makes me feel depressed, tired or moody
- I am afraid of having an embarrassing accident
- I have PMS symptoms, such as headaches, during my period
- I bleed more often than once a month
- My period lasts too long
- My period affects my social, athletic, or sexual activities or causes me to miss work
- My life would improve if i could decrease or completely eliminate my period
Information from Hologic
Call the Women’s Center today at 704-873-7250 to learn more about NovaSure or to schedule an appointment.
