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Julie Treacy from Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire is enjoying life to the full once more since undergoing a simple 90-second procedure to stop her heavy periods.

"Today my life is full and active again.  I can enjoy my family and the hectic schedule that bringing up three children demands.  The reason that I am so pleased to be a busy mum again is that a few years ago it was a very different story.

I started experiencing heavier periods about five years ago and over time they gradually became worse.  My regular menstrual cycle of 4-5 days started increasing until at its worst I was continually bleeding for three weeks at a time.  I was losing so much blood that I became anaemic, which made me very tired and weepy.

During these horrendous periods I was completely house-bound.  It was just impossible for me to leave the house.  I would get ‘stabbing’ pains in my stomach and would often black-out, I never knew when and where it would happen.

My children were aged 14 years, 10 years and 6 years at this time.  My youngest son is severely handicapped and needs constant round-the-clock care.   It was imperative for me to sort my menstrual cycle out as quickly as possible.  But, at my lowest ebb I really thought there was nothing that could be done to help alleviate the bleeding.

I was recommended various options, including a hysterectomy and the coil.  Although I didn’t want to have any more children, I also didn’t want to undergo such extreme surgery as a hysterectomy and the coil wasn’t an option because I suffer from migraines and was afraid it would make them worse.  I was prescribed Tranexamic acid tablets that can reduce bleeding by up to 50%.  However, the tablets made my headaches worse and I had to stop taking them.

I scoured the internet believing there had to be a better option and discovered a technique called endometrial ablation which thins the lining of the womb. 

I saw a consultant gynaecologist who was an experienced practitioner in the NovaSure® technique and he talked me through the whole procedure - it seemed to be the perfect answer for my particular needs.  Best of all, it is an effective and minimally invasive outpatient procedure that requires no incisions and can be carried out under a local anaesthetic in less than two minutes.

I was booked in to have the NovaSure procedure within a matter of weeks.  I had a general anaesthetic and was monitored in hospital overnight.  I was discharged the following day and, apart from feeling slight cramping for a few days, I felt absolutely fine.

Since then, I’ve got my life back again and my children have got their mum back.  Now I have my energy back, I’ve started cycling which before was just unthinkable.

I would recommend this procedure to any woman who is experiencing heavy bleeding problems, it’s well worth checking out."

For further information please visit the NovaSure website or call our Outpatients department on 020 8341 4182 to make an appointment with Mr Nicholas Morris FRCOG, the Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician who carries out this procedure at Highgate Hospital.