Q & A on NovaSure for Heavy Bleeding

As promised in my previous post, Treatment Options for Menorrhagia, here’s my interview with the doctor who performed the one-millionth NovaSure ablation, Dr. Scott Shade, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Rockwood Clinic in Spokane, Washington. The NovaSure procedure permanently removes the endometrial lining that causes menstrual bleeding.

The questions were written by me, and the responses are directly from Dr. Shade for Blisstree readers.

Q: Does the NovaSure procedure translate into immediate relief of excessive menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)?
A: Yes. Unlike most other ablation techniques, NovaSure can be performed during a bleeding episode. No hormonal pre-treatment is necessary. This makes scheduling easier. The results are immediately apparent.

Q: Does NovaSure permanently stop menstrual cycles in treated patients? Likewise, is fertility permanently affected?
A: No procedure is 100% successful. But NovaSure has the highest rates of amenorrhea (no bleeding at all) of all the ablative options; greater than 60% in my practice. More than 90% of the patients are happy with the results—decreased bleeding, cramping and PMS symptoms. In most patients these results are permanent.

NovaSure is not offered to patients who wish to keep their child-bearing options open.

Q: As a doctor who performs NovaSure procedures, how well do you think most women tolerate the treatment?
A: I have had many patients return to work the next day. Usually we perform the procedures on a Friday, and all of those patients can resume normal activity by Monday.

Q: What are the benefits of getting NovaSure treatment for excessive menstrual bleeding instead of a hysterectomy?
A: The most important reason is less risk. There is minimal risk with the NovaSure procedure. A hysterectomy is major surgery with significantly more risks of a surgical or anesthetic complication. It may be the best recommendation for some patients, but we would prefer to try the safest option first. That is clearly NovaSure. With a 90% approval rating from our patients, the number of hysterectomies we now perform is significantly reduced.

Q: Is the NovaSure procedure typically covered under insurance plans?
A: Almost universally. We do most of our procedures in the office, and most of the insurance providers charge the patients only an office co-pay.

Q: Is NovaSure indicated for other problems besides menorrhagia? For instance, would it be used to treat endometriosis?
A: While it is mainly a treatment for heavy bleeding, 75% of my patients gain relief from menstrual cramping; 50% report a significant improvement in PMS symptoms. Endometriosis is a problem on the outside of the uterus, tubes, and ovaries and you would not expect significant improvement with the NovaSure.

Q: Do you have anything to add?
A: The occasion of the one-millionth NovaSure ablation gives us an opportunity to begin a conversation about choices that women now have. Women with menstrual problems no longer have to suffer these symptoms because they believe their only options are either long-term hormonal therapy or hysterectomy.

The take-home message: Any woman whose child-bearing is complete and perceives her menstrual periods to be a problem, should talk to her doctor about NovaSure.

(Image via stock.xchng)