BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Gynecology Painful Periods Post Novasure??

ive posted this before but here it is again post op Q&A


What is this clear fluid I am passing?
This is called serous fluid and it is very normal. Most women get it, however, some do not. The reason it occurs is because when the uterine lining is destroyed, it 'weeps' this fluid and this is a sign of healing. Say you get a burn on your arm, as it starts to heal, it will 'weep' a clear liquid to heal, the same applies after an endometrial ablation due to the destruction of the endometrium.


When will my post-op bleeding/discharge stop?
It varies so much among women. Some get nothing {rare} and some get it for up to six weeks, I heard from a few women that had it a bit longer. I had it for about two or three weeks.


When can I resume intercourse?
Listen to what your doctor tells you. I was told to wait for six weeks because I had a D&C along with my endometrial ablation. Some women are told to wait until their bleeding/discharge stops, some are told to resume at two weeks, some at four weeks, etc. It differs so much, so please always follow your doctor's orders to the letter.


When can I wear tampons again?
This is up to your doctor. I have heard anywhere from two to six weeks, give or take a week.


Will I gain weight from the endometrial ablation?
Some women have reported bloating which has lasted them for a few weeks post-endometrial ablation, but no lasting weight gain from the endometrial ablation that I have ever heard of.


Will my PMS change after the endometrial ablation ~ get better or worse?
It can, however, because the ovaries are not touched, it is not supposed to have any affect on PMS. Some women report an increase in PMS while some women say their PMS is much better.


Why am I still experiencing cramps so far into my recovery?
You will still cycle and there is such a thing as a blood-less period - if there is nothing to shed - then nothing gets shed but your hormones still jump start the uterus to cramp into action so to speak.


Why am I still getting periods, I thought an endometrial ablation makes them stop?
Endometrial Ablations are performed to eliminate or reduce bleeding from the uterus. Women who have had a successful endometrial ablation will have light to normal periods, and some women will have no menstrual bleeding at all. For example - if you fall down and skin your knee on the ground, that skin or scar is a little bit tougher than the other skin on your body. Endometrial ablations aim to 'toughen up' the endometrium, that's where the bleeding comes from. So if there's less or no endometrium then there's going to be less or no bleeding.


I assumed that my next period would come 28 days (my cycle length) after my last period. Is that the assumption that the next period arrives on schedule or does the endometrial ablation set the clock somehow? Or is it just, anything could happen, have to wait and see?
Endometrial ablations do not stop the ovaries from functioning, therefore, you will still have your period when it is due, BUT in order to have a period that includes discharge (blood) you must also have a lining to shed ~ in the case of D&C's and endometrial ablations - that lining for the most part is gone (at least in the initial stages ~ it should be) thus any period that you have would only be shedding what is left in your uterus - post-op remnants and fluid from the uterus trying to heal.

What we see in a period flow is the lining of the uterus being expelled ~ depending on hormones, state of uterus, functioning of ovaries, etc., that is what is expelled during a period - once your body starts to decrease it's production of progesterone and the levels of estrogen start to increase again, the lining stops it's shedding action and starts once again to rebuild itself. A D&C or endometrial ablation would remove the lining for the most part - that is the reason that many ladies are given Lupron prior/or their endometrial ablations are scheduled when the lining is at it thinnest (right after their periods) - the doctors then have less "stuff" to deal with. Afterward the majority of that lining is gone. Your ovaries may very well be sending a signal to the uterus that it is time for a period - that is why you may continue to get PMS symptoms (brought on by hormones) but with your endometrial ablation being so recently - there should not be that much lining left to flow - so to speak! And lastly if you did have Lupron prior to your endometrial ablation - the hormone cycles are really going to be messed up for a while.


When will my final result become apparent?
This can take 3-4 months up to a full year for your final bleeding pattern to 'settle in'. Be patient as some women have some very odd bleeding patterns those first few months post-op, and sadly, some 'assume' their ablations 'didn't help' as they do not give this enough time. The body needs to get back on course and this does take time so PLEASE BE PATIENT and don't give up - give the endometrial ablation time to see if it will indeed offer you relief. Be sure to ask your doctor about this.

Hi guys, I had novasure done 3 weeks ago. I had it for heavy bleeding. My periods were like clock work every 28 days lasting 7 days, two of those seven days were so heavy I could not function. Today is the day I am due for my period and I nothing!!!!! I still have some discharge but I feel great!!
I just wanted give some good feed back to those thinking about having this done..
Good Luck ! I will keep you all posted

Hi everyone, sorry for posting so late about my doctors appt. I was busy this weekend. Well my doc was shock to hear that I read a lot of neg about the Nova Sure. She said she does the Nova Sure about 5 times a week and has been doing it for over 6 years. She has only had three women that it did not work for. She hasn't had any that had bad pain for months. She said I could feel some cramping and light bleeding for a few weeks or a little longer while everything is healing.She did put me on a hormone called Norethindrone. It has stopped the bleeding and so far I'm not feeling any bad side effects.So for now I will stay on this for as long as I can ,and then I might try mirena. If all that fails ,then Nova Sure it will be. I do think that it is important to ask your doctor how long they have been doing it and how many had complications. Also I think it is important to have this done at a hospital and have a D&C done with it as well. I glad more people are coming on here with positive results, not that i don't want to hear the bad I want to hear it all. I will keep watching this site to build up my confidences. Thanks to all for posting good and bad it helps.

FYI...Right after having the D&C and Novasure, I bled lightly for about 30 days, and I did have pain for two weeks afterward. Nothing that Advil (nothing stronger for me)couldn't fix. I was a little scared that first month, but once it was over...oh what a joy!

I am 8 months pregnant and have battled with extremely heavy irregular periods since I was 12. I have been on and off the pill for about 18 years. Right before I conceived this child I had a terrible allergic reaction to the NuvaRing, where the ling of my uterus was sluffing off in 6 inch pieces.

My good friend recently had the NovaSure procedure done about 2 months ago, and she just raves about her new life without periods, PMS, or cramping. I have spoken to my doctor in passing about the procedure and she said that her patients have had much success with this procedure and was extremely positive. She said I would be a great candidate. This is my last child, as my husband will have his surgery while I am on maternity leave.

My questions are: 1) How soon after childbirth can the procedure be done? 2) Can I have the procedure done while nursing?

I would imagine that you OB/GYN would not consider you a candidate for this surgery until at least the normal 6-8 weeks of vaginal healing they recommend for vaginal intercourse is up. There is risk with surgery already, and then your body is already traumatized from giving birth. You have to heal from that first.

Nursing may also cause your periods to hold off on their own - so you might not need the surgery while nursing.

I can't find any info that says the surgery itself is dangerous to nursing mothers - I can't find any info linking the two at all. I mean, this is not a drug or anything that would pass into the baby's system (You might have to express a few feedings to get rid of whatever anesthesia they use), but the procedure itslef would not affect the baby.

But your body is just in a constant state of hormonal flux while you are still nursing, it would be hard to figure out what is "normal" in this state.

Also, on the Novasure site - it said it does not recommend having this procedure if you plan to get pregnant again. It can make a subsequent pregnancy dangerous. But the procedure itslef does not prevent pregnancy, so you would need to plan birth control (I see your husband is getting a vasectomy - son you are covered there. Just remember that the first half-dozen or so times, his sperm is still viable. So you need ANOTHER back-up!)

Here's the link to Novasure's site which has and FAQ and a few other interesing things on it. Novasure official site

This is a question for your doctor as anesthesia is required, and I believe it may be harmful to your nursing baby.

Thank you both. I have an appointment tomorrow, so I will post the answer she gives me at the appointment. Thank you!

Ok...I have a few answers. I spoke with my OBGYN and she recommends that this procedure is done at least 3 months after the birth of your last child, in order to allow enough time for the uterus to heal. She is also researching about the nursing issue, but she felt pretty comfortable with just having me pump and dump for 24 hrs. after the procedure. I will post again, once I get a firm answer.

My friend mentioned this to me, she had Novasure done in Feb. 08 and has been free of pain and periods since.

I have now been bleeding since sometime in late August and the Nuvaring has made me insane, the Progesterone made me crazy. I don't DO hormones very well.

I also seem to have the bad luck of finding anti-surgery/procedure doctors, so I'm considering going to consult with my friend's doctor.

Waiting another 2 or 3 months to give hormones which give me terrible migraines and make me mean and insane is just not an option. Oh, and while she referred me for an ultrasound, she wanted one where they catheterize the uterus and fill it with saline and they don't do that if you are bleeding. Bit of a catch 22 there...have not stopped bleeding in a long time.

If it doesn't work and I end up w/ a hysterectomy, I'm good with that. I despise bleeding all the time. At this point it is affecting my sex life, my hobbies, I have to jump up at work to run to the bathroom way more often than is normal.

Have any of you found doctors that are unwilling to listen to you?

I should have had a clue when she was also anti-tubal ligation when I mentioned that.