Treatment Option can be Alternative to Hysterectomy

"Hysterectomy should only be considered after all other alternative options have been explored with the patient," says Prevea OB/GYN Brian Dobbins, MD. One common reason women undergo a hysterectomy is to eliminate excessive menstrual bleeding.

The good news is that new minimally invasive treatment options can permanently reduce or eliminate bleeding. For example, the NovaSure® procedure available at Prevea Health avoids the complications and costs of traditional drug and surgical therapies previously used for this purpose.

NovaSure^®, an FDA-approved procedure, uses a slender surgical device inserted through the cervix into the uterus to deliver electrical energy to "ablate" or permanently remove the endometrial lining. Removing the uterine lining reduces or may even eliminate bleeding. The procedure requires no incisions and can be performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia. It generally takes less than five minutes to complete.

"The benefits of the NovaSure^® procedure," explains Prevea OB/GYN Robert Southwick, MD, "include a rapid treatment time, excellent safety record, no required hormonal pre-treatment and high success/patient satisfaction rates."

As with any surgical procedure, prospective patients should fully understand the risks and benefits of NovaSure^® beforehand. It's only appropriate for pre-menopausal women who have completed childbearing and do not wish to become pregnant in the future.

Prevea OB/GYNs keep up with current medical advancements such as NovaSure^® so women can be assured of having access to the newest health care treatments right here in our own community.

To schedule an appointment with one of Prevea's OB/GYN providers, call (920) 405-1430. To view an online video of Dr. Southwick discussing NovaSure^®, click here.