Endometrial Ablation Specialist

Tassone Gynecology Shawn Tassone, MD, PhD Our Services Endometrial Ablation

Tassone Gynecology

Shawn Tassone, MD, PhD

Gynecologist located in Round Rock, TX

Having abnormal uterine bleeding isn’t something you have to live with. By visiting with Dr. Shawn Tassone, OB/GYN, of Tassone Gynecology in Austin, Texas, you can get a proper diagnosis and schedule an endometrial ablation to treat the issue. This procedure safely cauterizes your uterine lining (endometrium), so you no longer have to deal with constant uncomfortable bleeding.

Endometrial Ablation Q & A

How can endometrial ablation help me?

You may experience abnormal bleeding from your uterus and benefit from an endometrial ablation, if you have a benign growth or uterine condition. During the procedure, Dr. Tassone usually uses a laser or heat to gently destroy the lining of your uterus. As your uterine walls recover, the abnormal bleeding should resolve and your periods may stop entirely.

If you’re a longtime sufferer of abnormal uterine bleeding, you will only be able to have an endometrial ablation procedure if your family is complete and you don’t intend to become pregnant. This procedure can make you sterile.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for surgery?

Yes. Before your procedure, Dr. Tassone will need to take a biopsy of your endometrial lining to exclude the presence of cancer cells. An endometrial ablation is not a treatment for cancer, so this needs to be completely ruled out before proceeding.

He’ll also need to order imaging, or use a lighted viewing instrument called a hysteroscope, to see inside your uterus. The purpose of this test is to make sure you don’t have uterine polyps or fibroids in the lining of your uterus. If polyps or fibroids are indeed present — they are also causes of heavy bleeding — they can usually just be removed without having to go through a full endometrial ablation.

If you have an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control, it’ll need to be removed before surgery. In some cases, you may need to undergo hormonal therapy for a few weeks before having an endometrial ablation. These hormones can help shrink your uterine lining to make surgery as simple and successful as possible.

What should I expect after surgery?

You will need at least 24 hours to recuperate from surgery and to fully recover from going under general anesthesia, if it was required. Some patients report having cramps and Dr. Tassone can discuss pain management options — like painkillers — with you before your surgery. It’s likely that you’ll have some vaginal discharge that will resemble watery blood. As you heal, it’ll become more clear. Usually, this discharge goes away completely after 1-2 weeks. You should be fully recovered and back to your normal routine after 2 weeks.