More than 10 million American women suffer from excessive menstrual bleeding or heavy periods, a condition known as menorrhagia.  In fact, more than 20 percent of the 600,000 hysterectomies performed annually in the United States are to treat heavy periods.

Dr. Silverman offers a treatment called GYNECARE THERMACHOICE Uterine Baloon Therapy that can help women suffering with heavy periods avoid a hysterectomy – and skip the hospital altogether.  The treatment, which Dr. Silverman performs in his office, preserves the uterus and requires no incision. Recovery is fast and most women can typically return to their normal activities the next day.  For further information please check the manufacturer’s web site at “www.pelvichealthsolutions.com/heavy-periods”.

Heavy periods, month after month, can significantly impact on a woman’s quality of life.  Many women think that hysterectomy is their only option to treat the problem, but uterine balloon therapy has proven to be a safe and effective way to reduce the burden of heavy periods.

GYNECARE THERMACHOICE is an option for premenopausal women who have completed childbearing. It can be performed safely in my office using a local anesthetic. During the treatment a balloon catheter is inserted into the uterus and inflated with a small amount of sterile fluid that is heated for eight minutes to break down the uterine lining. When the treatment cycle is completed, all the fluid is withdrawn from the balloon and the catheter is removed. Nothing stays in the uterus. The uterine lining has been treated and will slough off like a period within the next seven to 10 days.  The Theremachoice uterine balloon therapy has been available in the United States since 1998 and has been used to treat more than 400,000 women whrldwide.

I’m very comfortable performing the treatment in my office instead of a hospital outpatient setting.  I find that my pateints prefer it too, because the office setting can be less stressful and easier for them to schedule into their busy lives.

I most women, the treatment will reduce mestrual bleeding to a moderate or light manageable flow.  Some women may experience spotting, while other women may stop bleeding altogether (amenorrhea).  Clinical data also shows 78 percent of the women evaluated three years after treatment are free from significant menstrual pain and cramping. 

A five-year follow up study of women previously treated with Gynecare Thermachoice shows that 95 percent of women still reported normal bleeding or less, and 93 percent remained satisfied with the treatment.  Overall, nearly 7 our of 10 patients avoided further surgery, such as hysterectomy, to treat their bleeding.

Gynecare Thermachoice Uterine Balloon Therapy is not recommended for women who still want to have children.  Since there is a chance pregnancy could occur, contraception or sterilization should be used after treatment.  All medical procedures carry risks; rate, but possible complications include; blood loss, heat burn of internal organs, electrical burn, perforation (hole) or rupture of the wall of the uterus, and leakage of heated fluid from the balloon or tissue into the cervix and vagina.