A new study has found that a new treatment with so-called ‘hot balloon’ can help women deal with heavy and painful periods.

Only in UK more than 1.5 million women aged from 30 to 49 consults her GP each year because of the problem: this number actually suggests that one in 20 women has a serious problem with heavy menstrual bleeding aka menorrhagia. Additionally, visits gynaecologist account for one in five of all referrals because of problems with menstrual disorders.


Study suggests that this alternative no-pill hot balloon treatment has comparing to very radical treatment of hysterectomy a very good success rate of 90%. Pill related treatments that reduce heavy menstrual flow include drugs like tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid, but if patient does not respond to pill treatment, radical treatment is suggested: hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure of     removing the womb as a whole or in part. This treatment does guarantee success, but it also guarantees the end of periods.

The alternative method, aka as hot balloon treatment or balloon thermal endometrial ablation offers considerably less invasive alternative.

During the procedure a balloon is placed into the uterus through the cervix, and then the balloon is inflated by filling it with a special solution, which is then heated to destroy the layer of tissue lining the womb (endometrium). The procedure takes only few minutes and can performed using local anaesthesia.

Previous researches also showed promising results: after 12 months of therapy two studies reported normal bleeding in more than 70% of women. Latest study that was carried out at Mayo Clinic where approximately 250 women with heavy menstrual bleeding underwent the hot balloon procure reports that the failure rate of procedure at three years was around 11 per cent, which means the procedure needed to be repeated and woman was suggested hysterectomy after all.

It is essential to bring out that women who want to conceive again shouldn’t undergo this treatment, although some examples show conception is still possible even after the lining is destroyed.