Menopausal Management
Menopausal Management
Menopause is
a normal part of life experienced by women in their 40s or 50s. It
is marked by a woman’s last period, which can only be established
after the patient has been period free for a full year. Perimenopausal
years are the three to five years prior to the final period.
At menopause, a woman’s body makes less estrogen and she stops
having menstrual periods. The lack of estrogen can bring on symptoms
such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. It can also result in other
health concerns, including osteoporosis (loss of bone density) and increased
risk of heart disease.
At Great Lakes Gynecology & Aesthetic Center, women benefit from
a number of approaches to menopausal management. Hormone Replacement
Therapy (HRT) is one approach, which is used to restore estrogen after
menopause. To relieve your symptoms, your doctor might suggest taking
estrogen and/ or progesterone, depending upon whether your uterus has
been removed.
In addition to HRT, there are many complementary and alternative approaches
to menopausal management, including herbal remedies, dietary supplements,
vitamins, healthy diet, and exercise. Your physician will work with you
to examine your choices and take the best course of action depending
upon your needs.
Treatment of Cervical Disease
Treatment of Cervical Disease
As part of
a women’s routine gynecological care, a Pap smear is an important
tool. It indicates to the physician if abnormal cells are present on
the cervix. This is known as cervical dysplasia and while it does not
cause health problems, it is considered to be a precancerous condition.
While it can take a number of years for cervical dysplasia to develop
into cancer, the patient is best served by prompt treatment.
Patients who are considered high-risk because of an abnormal Pap smear
(either currently or in the past) will want to seek the care of a specialist.
While many cases of mild dysplasia do not present a problem, other cases
will progress into cervical cancer if left untreated. Beyond the Pap
smear, a specialist may utilize other procedures for detection, including
colposcopy, which is a procedure that uses a special microscope to look
into the vagina. If need be, a specialist can offer a couple of different
treatment options, including cryotherapy or a LEEP, which is a loop electrosurgical
excision procedure. During LEEP, a high-intensity electrical current
is passed through the loop-electrode, allowing the doctor to shave off
a thin slice of cervical tissue. This tissue can be examined under a
microscope to check for abnormal cells, if the purpose was diagnosis.
LEEP can also be used to remove any tissue that may be found to be cancerous
or pre-cancerous once it is found.
In-Office Endometrial Ablation
In-Office
Endometrial Ablation with ThermaChoice
GYNECARE THERMACHOICE
A one-day solution to heavy periods that's available in doctors' offices.
GYNECARE THERMACHOICE*
Uterine Balloon Therapy System is a simple, one-time minimally-invasive
30-minute outpatient treatment performed by Dr. Hamacher that is usually
a permanent solution for heavy periods. This non-hormonal treatment
was developed to reduce excessive menstrual bleeding in pre-menopausal
women who are having heavy periods due to benign (non-cancerous) causes.
GYNECARE THERMACHOICE is a type of endometrial ablation that uses heat
to treat the endometrium (en-do-me-tre-um), the lining of the
uterus). It requires no incisions and is performed at Great Lakes Gynecology
and Aesthetic under local anesthesia and requires no incision. It eliminates
the need to go to the hospital, and it’s covered by most insurance
plans.
Unlike a hysterectomy,
GYNECARE THERMACHOICE allows you to preserve your uterus. Recovery
is fast - most women return to their normal activities the next day.
Unlike oral contraceptives, GYNECARE THERMACHOICE has no impact on
your natural hormonal composition and does not require taking pills
daily. Because GYNECARE THERMACHOICE is hormone free, the treatment
does not cause weight gain.
Following treatment
with GYNECARE
THERMACHOICE, most
women can expect light to moderate periods, or possibly no periods at
all. GYNECARE THERMACHOICE has been used worldwide more than any other
procedure of its type. 74% of women experience either lighter bleeding
or no bleeding at all one year after treatment with GYNECARE THERMACHOICE.
Nearly 3 out of 4 women evaluated three years after treatment experienced
a reduction in menstrual pain and cramping. Nearly 2 out of 3 women reported
either mild or no PMS symptoms three years after treatment. This is the
greatest reduction in these symptoms of any treatment of its type.
Are women satisfied with the results of GYNECARE THERMACHOICE?
Yes, they are. In fact, while there are other ablation technologies,
GYNECARE THERMACHOICE is the only one where:
- 93% of women are satisfied with the result after 5 years.
- Prior to the procedure, more than 70% of these women felt that their
heavy periods had been having a negative impact on their lives. Following
treatment, only about 2% felt that way after 3 years.
- Nearly 3 out of 4 of women treated 3 years (post-treatment) experienced
a reduction in menstrual pain and cramping associated with their period.
- Nearly 2 out of 3 women reported mild or no PMS symptoms at 3 years.
- Three years after being treated, 79% of women had either normal,
light or no bleeding at all.
Is It Right For Me?
THERMACHOICE is likely to be a good choice for you if:
- Your doctor has ruled out uterine conditions such as hyperplasia
(hi-per-play-ze-a, a thickening of uterine tissue) as a cause
of your heavy bleeding
- Your Pap smear and biopsy (a tissue sample from the inside of the
uterus) are also normal
- You have not yet gone through menopause but are through with childbearing
- You prefer not to take hormone therapy
This is not a treatment for uterine cancer or precancerous conditions.
As with all endometrial ablation procedures, this procedure should not
be used if you think you might want to become pregnant in the future. Pregnancy
after endometrial ablation is unlikely, but potentially quite dangerous
for you and the baby because the endometrial lining of the uterus, which
you need to carry a baby to full term, is removed. There is still a chance
that pregnancy could occur, however, so it is very important that you use
birth control correctly and consistently after any endometrial ablation
procedure.
How it works?
This is how the procedure is done, step by step:
- First, a soft, flexible balloon (made of a silicone material, which
eliminates the risk of allergy for latex-sensitive women) attached
to a thin catheter (tube) is inserted into the vagina, through the
cervix, and placed gently into the uterus. No incision is required.
Then, the balloon is inflated with a sterile fluid that expands the
balloon to fit the size and shape of the uterus, conforming to the
unique contours of your body.
Insertion and inflation
Treatment and monitoring
-
When the treatment cycle is completed, all the fluid is withdrawn
from the balloon, and the catheter is removed. Nothing remains in
the uterus. The uterine lining has been treated and will slough off,
or shed, like a period.
Deflation and removal
GYNECARE THERMACHOICE balloon
Note: Actual size of GYNECARE THERMACHOICE balloon when inflated
is approximately the size of a quarter.
What will I feel during the procedure?
Before treatment, your doctor may give you medicine to reduce cramping
during and after the procedure, although you may still feel some. You
may also be given a mild sedative to help you relax, and your doctor
may use local anesthesia to numb the cervix. You are unlikely to feel
any sensation of heat as the fluid is circulated in the balloon.
The procedure can be performed in your doctor's office, an outpatient
center, or in the hospital under local, regional or general anesthesia.
Your doctor can help you decide what type of anesthesia is best for you.
What will I feel after the procedure?
You may feel some cramping, as with a period. If you need it, your doctor
may suggest an anti-inflammatory pain reliever such as ibuprofen (eg, Motrin)
to make you feel more comfortable. After 1 to 4 hours in the recovery
room, you should be ready to go home, where you can rest for the remainder
of the day.
What can I expect after I go home?
Most women can go back to work and family commitments the day after their
procedure. Sexual activity can usually be resumed after your first check-up
(usually in 7-14 days). You will probably have a pinkish watery discharge.
Your doctor will tell you what to expect after the procedure.
Will I still need to use contraception after treatment?
Yes. Since there is still a small chance pregnancy could occur, it is
very important to use highly effective birth control after any endometrial
ablation procedure. As with all endometrial ablation procedures, this
procedure should not be used if you think you might want to become pregnant
in the future. Pregnancy after ablation is unlikely, but if it does occur,
it may be risky for you and your baby because the endometrial lining
of the uterus has been removed. There are several options available for
birth control. If you’re considering permanent birth control with
the ESSURE procedure, GYNECARE THERMACHOICE is the only endometrial ablation
device with FDA approval to be used with ESSURE.
Why should I choose Gynecare Thermachoice?
GYNECARE THERMACHOICE is the only type of endometrial ablation with proven
long-term efficacy and published data at five years. It’s the
most widely used procedure and has been performed worldwide more than
any other type of endometrial ablation product. It is a definitive,
dependable treatment for most women. Nearly 9 out of 10 women avoided
hysterectomy at 3 years after treatment, and nearly 3 out of 4 women
evaluated three years after treatment experienced a reduction in menstrual
pain and cramping. Nearly 2 out of 3 women experienced either mild
or no PMS symptoms 3 years after treatment.
What are the risks associated with Gynecare Thermachoice?
GYNECARE THERMACHOICE treats the uterine lining to control excessive
bleeding due to benign causes in women who don't want to become pregnant.
Most common side effects are discharge, cramping, nausea and vomiting.
As with all procedures of this type, there is a risk of injury to the
uterus and surrounding tissue. Only GYNECARE THERMACHOICE has the lowest
rate of reported complications of any procedure of its type.
Understanding your treatment options is a big step toward taking control
of your life. You've taken that first step. Now take the next one.
Additional Information can be found at:
http://www.gynecare.com/
* Trademark ETHICON, INC.
