Uterine balloon therapy
One woman in five suffers from excessive menstrual bleeding, a chronic condition that can cause severe anemia. The traditional treatment has been hysterectomy.

Since we introduced uterine balloon therapy in early 1998, the procedure has become a welcome alternative treatment.

Uterine balloon therapy involves the doctor threading a balloon into the uterus, inflating it with sterile water, and heating the water to 188 degrees. The heat removes most of the endometrial lining of the uterus - the source of the bleeding.

Women undergo the procedure on an outpatient basis. They can usually resume normal activities the following day. By contrast, recovery from a traditional hysterectomy may take several weeks.

Note: Uterine balloon therapy is not a treatment for fibroids or cancer in the uterus. Women should not try to become pregnant after they have the procedure.