Menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding) is one of the most widespread women’s health conditions today, say experts. One in five women or roughly 10 million women in the U.S. suffers from the condition which causes severe pain and embarrassment, demands drastic restrictions in lifestyle and, in many cases, leaves sufferers anemic, they say. The debilitating affects of the condition are corroborated by sufferers, according to findings reported in a recent National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC) survey of 653 women who suffer from menorrhagia. More than half of the survey respondents have made adjustments in their lives to accommodate their condition, 20 percent have had to miss work and nearly 40 percent have developed anemia.
Previously, the only treatment options available were hormone therapy or hysterectomy. Even today, hormones are still often prescribed to women with heavy periods, even though they’re only effective 50 percent of the time, and many women find it hard to tolerate their side effects, forget to take them, or are contraindicated to take them. Hysterectomy, an invasive and risky surgical procedure, also remains a very common treatment despite the broad availability of less-invasive alternatives.
Today, women suffering from excessive menstrual bleeding have a safe and highly effective alternative – endometrial ablation. According to a new study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, its efficacy and safety profile over a 10-year period suggest it should receive greater consideration relative to current medical therapy. In addition, previous studies have demonstrated that early ablation can help achieve better menstrual status and greater improvement in health-related quality of life than medical treatment can, proponents say.
Some physicians now offer the NovaSure System, the most widely used endometrial ablation technique that uses precisely measured radio frequency energy to permanently remove the uterine lining that produces menstrual bleeding. It’s a 90-second outpatient procedure generally performed under local anesthesia, and can be done at any time during a woman’s cycle, even during her period, making it a fast, easy and convenient solution that’s changing women’s lives.
There are a few ways to find out more about the condition and the procedure. One is www.novasure.com, a website with information about the condition, procedure, and a physician finder for women that helps in finding an area doctor who offers it (if your own physician is unfamiliar with it or doesn’t offer it). Another great site is www.aboutheavyperiods.com, which has a short symptom quiz, additional information about treatments, and personal stories from women who share their experience.
Doctor WatchDog Notification Service Sphere It
0 Responses to “Prevalent Women’s Health Condition Affects 1 Out of Every 5 Women”