Health & Wellness

Q&A: Is there any surgery to stop your period forever? What would happen if I did that?

There are surgeries that can stop your period forever or greatly reduce the blood flow during your period. One such surgery is removing the uterus completely, also known as a partial hysterectomy. A newer surgery is an endometrial ablation where the lining of the uterus is destroyed or damaged. This prevents build up of the lining during cyclical hormone stimulation and thus keeps period blood flow to a minimum, if at all. One key drawback to having a surgery like this is the effect on getting or staying pregnant. A surgery like this is usually not elective and performed for women who have problems with heavy bleeding that cannot be controlled by other measures. If you are having concerns about the amount of bleeding that you have with your period, make an appointment to talk to your health care provider to discuss your concerns and come up with a plan that will suit all of your needs.

There are surgeries that can stop your period, though they are generally for women who need them for medical reasons. I had endometrial ablation surgery five years ago and have not had a period since (though some women do still have light periods after this surgery and for some women it doesn’t work at all).

If you’re wondering about having surgery, the best person to talk to is your healthcare provider.

There are surgeries that would stop your period, but it’s not something to go into lightly. There are also birth control options that can stop your period for a time. I suggest speaking with your healthcare provider as to why you are thinking of this and they could give you better information on what options, if any, you may have.