Stop the FlowPeriod. We did, a group of young looking talking heads intone. A woman in doctors garb continues to extol the virtues of not ever having a period again. You may recognize this as the latest commercial for a medical miraclestopping your menstrual cycle forever. The medical procedure to create this miracle is touted to be a walk in the park, a piece of cake, an opportunity too good to pass up. What the commercial doesnt tell you, is the inherent negative aftereffects of the procedure or of significantly reducing or stopping your menstrual cycle.

Stopping the flow is known as endometrial ablation (destruction of the uterine lining). Endometrial ablation procedures can be accomplished through a variety of techniquesElectrocautery; Balloon endometrial ablation; Freezing of the uterine lining.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, there is no evidence that one method produces superior success rates, and a variety of new techniques (phototherapy, microwave, radio-frequency) are being researched.

Complications from any of the procedures are few, but can be serious:

blood loss requiring a transfusion,

perforation of the uterus,

damage to other internal organshemorrhage, bowel injury.

Electrosurgery requires fluid to be instilled in the uterine cavity which can lead to fluid overload.

Common side effects after the procedure include:

nausea, vomiting,

vaginal discharge that can last from days to weeksExpect to have bleeding up to four to six weeks. With ablation, you are traumatizing the surface whether you use electrosurgery, burn it or freeze it," says Malcolm Munro, M.D., a professor and gynecologist at UCLA.

immediate peri-menopause/menopause or early menopauseincluding all inherent peri and menopausal symptoms

some women have adenomyosis in the uterus whereby the lining grows deeply into the muscle of the uterus. The ablation cannot extend deeply enough into the uterus to destroy the lining, which keeps responding to the normal cyclic hormonal pattern.

inadequate destruction of the lining in which case a repeat ablation might be recommended for success.

the ablation might hide a newly developing cancer and if so, could hide it to an advanced stage before being discoveredthe truth is we have not been doing ablations long enough to know. Dr. Frederick Jelovsek, M.D., M.S. Professor University Michigan.

need to be treated with progestogens to reduce the risk of developing uterine cancer when postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy is prescribed.

side effects of progestogens (HRT) As with any medication, some women experience unpleasant side effects from HRT. Others feel only positive effects.

Common side effects include breast tenderness, nausea, headaches, leg cramps, irregular bleeding, weight gain and bloating. Women are usually advised to persevere with HRT for 6 to 8 weeks to see if these symptoms subside. If unwanted side effects persist after this time, altering the dosage or changing the product, e.g. from tablets to patches may bring relief. But for some women, the side effects are unacceptable and they choose to stop HRT.

Less common side effects are reduced sex drive, depression, vaginal bleeding (other than the expected monthly bleed if progestogen is taken) pains in the chest, groin and legs. Adverse effects should always be reported to your doctor and those in the less common group are of more concern.

Inflammation and itching has sometimes been reported with skin patches. This seems to be less of a problem with the newer matrix patches.

Progestogens may cause various symptoms including swollen feet and ankles, premenstrual tension, weight gain, breakthrough bleeding (that is when bleeding occurs at times other than the expected monthly bleed) depression and jaundice. The last three in particular should be discussed with your doctor. Changing the type of progestogen may help as some progestogens cause fewer side effects as may the Mirena IUD which acts locally inside the womb.

HRT can increase the likelihood of women developing gallstones. Gallstones can enlarge especially with HRT tablets so women may need to change to a different form of HRT.

HRT does not usually make blood pressure rise. Women with pre-existing high blood pressure which is being monitored and treated should be able to take HRT.

As you can see this medical miracle isnt total gainyou are simply changing one set of symptoms/problems for another. The only one who gains is the physician who performs the medical procedure and also prescribes the medication in a futile effort to rectify the loss of metabolical chemicals the body needs. You have become a life-time patient for an enterprising doctor.

See "Don't Fool With Mother Nature," for natural remedies for PMS, peri-menopause and menopause symptoms.