According to WomensHealth.gov, the typical woman starts her period around the age of 12 years of age and continues until she reaches menopause. Women will experience approximately 500 periods in a lifetime. According to ScienceDaily.com, 20 percent of women will experience heavy or abnormal menstrual bleeding. There are various procedures that can stop menstrual bleeding.
Hysterectomy
Women who experience excessive menstrual bleeding, or menorrhagia, may elect to have a hysterectomy or removal of the uterus. According to FamilyDoctor.org, removing the uterus is only done in women who are sure they no longer want children. Without the uterus, the woman will no longer experience a menstrual cycle although her ovaries will continue to produce estrogen and progesterone. Some women will continue to experience the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome such as bloating, fatigue and irritability because the ovaries continue to cycle hormones. Removing the uterus is major surgery requiring a hospitalization, anesthesia and follow-up care. Hysterectomies should not be performed without careful consideration of a woman's reproductive future.
Endometrial Ablation
According to ScienceDaily.com, endometrial ablation is an effective treatment for excessive menstrual bleeding. An article published on January 9, 2009, states that by using an energy source that is either hot or cold, microwave or radiofrequency energy, doctors can destroy the inside lining of the uterus. As the uterus heals, scarring occurs, and the heavy, painful bleeding that once occurred is gone. This study stated that only 16 percent of women undergoing the procedure needed further treatment five years later. The researchers identified risk factors for potential treatment failures: women who had a previous tubal ligation or had debilitating menstrual pain prior to the procedure were more likely to have a hysterectomy five years later.
Injections
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, an injection of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, DMPA, not only provides contraceptive protection but also stops menstrual cycles. Seventy-five percent of women who use this form of birth control for more than a year note that they do not have periods. Many women stop using injections for birth control because initially they experience irregular bleeding. This side effect seems to dissipate over a period of six months or so. DMPA is an effective form of birth control and protects against uterine cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy (see reference 3).
