Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy is effective in treating menorrhagia less than 50% of the time, with varying degrees of menstrual bleeding reduction. The treatment itself is associated with potential side effects that affect a woman’s quality of life, including headaches, weight gain, and nausea. Unlike a one-time NovaSure Endometrial Ablation, hormone therapy requires ongoing therapy. Women may stop taking oral contraceptives or other hormone therapies for many reasons. Many women worry about long-term health effects from the medications or they have experienced side effects. Compliance is a complex issue that needs physician follow-up. Almost one third of women stop taking hormones due to side effects or lack of efficacy.

Hormones don't reliably help with heavy menstrual bleeding

53% of women failed to achieve normal bleeding1

Results from a 3-month randomized, controlled clinical trial of a 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol formulation

Hormone Therapy can take months to achieve bleeding control2,3

With Medical Management Treatment Failure is High,
Resulting in Additional Intervention4

Data from a 5-year study of menorrhagia with women randomized to receive medical therapy or transcervical resection (N=144). Medical therapies included OCs, progestins, an antifibrinolytic, GnRH agonist or HRT.

Drug therapy may not be an option for some patients, since oral contraceptives are contraindicated in women with a history of cardiovascular disease, blood clots, diabetes, and breast cancer. There are also serious questions regarding the potential health risks associated with long-term use of hormone therapy. Moreover, physicians have reported recently that fewer patients want to go on hormone therapy to control their menorrhagia.