Endometrial Ablation

[pinkpuppy]

Is this an option for women past child bearing years that don’t want to have a period anymore? Risks, recovery, experiences? What are the other options for those of us who just don’t want a period!

[Blue Dog Soda]

While I haven’t personally done it, a friend has. It wasn’t a super easy procedure to line up, like she had to really advocate that she wanted it. And it wasn’t just bc she was done having kids / didn’t want a period, but her’s was very painful and she had other symptoms that went along with it. The overall procedure and recovery was very painful, to put it bluntly. But it healed quick and that was that. Once it was over, there was nothing else, like no extended recovery or stitches or anything to tend to. She’s very glad she did it.

[christinarad]

I just had an endometrial ablation last week and it was painful for a couple days but it's feeling fine now. I chose to get this procedure done because I was suffering from debilitating cramps, irregular cycles, extremely heavy flow and blood clots. I also had a condition where my endometrial lining was growing into my uterine wall. I am done having children and I'm very happy this was an option!

[WovenHWH]

Endometrial ablation can definitely be an option for women who are done having kids and just don’t want to deal with periods anymore. It’s often used for heavy or bothersome bleeding when other treatments haven’t worked (or aren’t a good fit).
Recovery: Usually pretty quick — mild cramping or spotting for a few days, but most are back to normal activities within 24–48 hours.
A few things to know:
It’s not for anyone wanting future pregnancies (pregnancy after ablation can be dangerous).
It doesn’t fix hormone imbalances or endometriosis.
There’s a small risk of complications like infection or scar tissue.
Some women experience pain or bleeding later down the line (though not super common).

Also — just a heads up — insurance usually requires a medical reason to cover it, like documented heavy bleeding. They often want to see that other treatments were tried first (like hormonal options or IUDs), or that there’s a reason they’re not appropriate for you.

Other options to consider if you’re just over it:
Hormonal IUDs (like Mirena) — can stop or lighten periods for years.
Continuous birth control (pill, ring, patch).
Functional or integrative care — addressing root hormone imbalances to ease bleeding naturally, especially in perimenopause.

Hope that helps!