Stacy Found Relief With Endometrial Ablation
Stacy Gilfert and her family.
“I didn’t realize the impact abnormal uterine bleeding had on my life. There are hundreds of thousands of women across the world who have a story just like mine.”
Stacy Gilfert is among the one in three women1 who will experience abnormal uterine bleeding. Reflecting on her own journey, and as someone who speaks with women daily about their experiences with the condition, Gilfert knows all too well the impact it can have on a person’s life — and the hurdles many women face in finding effective relief.
Gilfert, a mom of three, found that her periods got progressively heavier after each pregnancy. “It reached the point where I was bleeding through a super plus tampon about every hour,” she recalls. “I would never wear white. At night, it became so severe that I had to put a towel down.”
The heavy bleeding also began affecting Gilfert’s social life and her job as a sales representative within the Breast and Skeletal Health Solutions division at Hologic. Gilfert reflects on one instance when she was on her way to meet her supervisor and a customer. “I was wearing a skirt and as I got out of the car, blood gushed down my leg,” says Gilfert. “When I got into the building, I rushed past my manager and the client to the bathroom without a word.”
How much uterine bleeding is considered "abnormal"?
Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is defined as uterine bleeding that is abnormal in regularity, volume, frequency or duration and happens in the absence of pregnancy.2 But without clarity on what is considered “abnormal,” like many women Gilfert assumed it was just a normal part of aging — until routine bloodwork revealed that her iron levels were dangerously low.
In general, a normal period lasts for 3-7 days and is bleeding 80 ml or less, which should require the use of fewer than 16 regular tampons, 6 overnight pads or 3 full 25 mL menstrual cups during a full cycle.
Gilfert’s doctor recommended that she take iron supplements. But because of the high volume of blood she was losing each month, they weren’t enough. Eventually, she needed to undergo iron transfusions. “It was then I knew that this definitely wasn’t normal,” says Gilfert, who began discussing treatment options with her doctor.
A five-minute procedure that can help alleviate abnormal uterine bleeding
“I didn’t want the hormones that come along with an IUD (intrauterine device),” says Gilfert. “So we started talking about ablation.” Endometrial ablation, such as Hologic’s NovaSure® procedure, is a treatment for abnormal uterine bleeding that uses radiofrequency energy — heat — to ablate the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. The procedure takes about five minutes to perform in a doctor’s office and is ideal for women who are finished having children and want a permanent solution to their abnormal bleeding.
Gilfert went ahead with the procedure and was able to go back to work the next day. Her periods stopped completely, and it has made all the difference.
“I didn’t realize the impact AUB had on my life until after seeking treatment,” says Gilfert. “Super plus tampons, worrying about towels at night — I was finally free from all of that.”
“Each of us, regardless of role, is able to make a difference for people — women with stories just like mine — so they can see that better is possible,” says Gilfert, who is pictured here (second from right) with her colleagues.
Since having her procedure, Gilfert has made the transition to a role in the Surgical Solutions division, where she talks with women and physicians about abnormal uterine bleeding and the impact it can have on people’s lives. She also helps raise awareness of the treatment options available to women.
“I think so many times we feel — or we’re made to feel by others — that it’s normal to have these types of symptoms as an expected part of aging,” says Gilfert. “Having the chance to make a difference for other women who share my story and are facing similar challenges is a motivating force for me every day.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing abnormal uterine bleeding, explore options and find expert care at www.BetterIsPossible.com.