Irregular / heavy menstrual bleeding can be
treated in several ways: 1) Hormonal medication (a low dose birth control pill or cyclic progestin); 2) A hormone - containing intrauterine device (the most common one used is the Mirena IUD, which manages bleeding very effectively and is placed during an office visit and lasts for 5 years); 3) Endometrial ablation is a surgery commonly performed as an outpatient procedure; the entire lining of the uterus is cauterized (many women never get a menstrual
period after an ablation); 4) Finally, I reserve hysterectomy as the treatment of last resort — typically only when the above options have not worked for a patient.