If you are one of the unlucky women who suffer with that dreaded time of the month, there is hope on the horizon.

A new treatment being carried out at Basildon Hospital using microwave technology is bringing rapid relief for women who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding and the agony that often comes with it.

Basildon was one of the first hospitals in the country to offer the treatment, called Minitouch, which offers an alternative to the discomfort and inconvenience of surgery. It was first used in Belgium and India, with high success rates.

About one in five women are affected by heavy bleeding each month, which can cause tiredness, discomfort and low iron levels. It can also be embarrassing for sufferers and restrict their activities.

The condition can be treated with endometrial ablation – removing the lining of the womb.

Another treatment option is to have a Mirena coil fitted, an intrauterine device that releases hormones. For some women, a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the womb) is recommended.

Previously endometrial ablation would have to be done in an operating theatre under general anaesthetic. The patient has be kept “nil by mouth” for hours before the operation, and may take days to recover from the effects of the anaesthetic.

Using Minitouch, the endometrial ablation treatment can be carried out with pain relief while the patient is awake.

Women are told to take pain killers one to two hours before. A small capsule is inserted into the womb, where it opens up and emits microwave energy for about 60 – 70 seconds. It can cause painful cramps during this time, and gas and air is offered for further pain relief. The majority of women report mild to moderate pain and are able to go home 10 minutes after it is finished.

Yatin Thakur, consultant obstetrician, at Basildon Hospital explained: “The benefit for patients is that this is a small procedure, which does not involve painful dilation of the cervix, or a hysterectomy, which is major surgery. It is more like having a coil fitted.

“Of the women we have treated so far, the vast majority said they were pain free and able to carry on with normal life straight away.

“We are one of only a few hospitals in the country to offer Minitouch, and some women are being referred here from London.

“We see about 650 women a year with heavy bleeding and we aim to treat most of them in future with this latest technology, because it offers a much better experience than previous methods.”

Minitouch is suitable for more women who have other health issues that may limit their options for surgery and mean a general anaesthetic could be more of a risk for them. It also means that hospital operating theatres and beds will be more available for essential surgery.

The procedure in most cases means the woman will experience much lighter bleeding each month afterwards, while some will cease having periods altogether. Most women also benefit from far less painful period cramps.

The treatment is only suitable for women who don’t want to have children in the future as the procedure can sometimes reduce the chances of conceiving.

It’s such a relief to make plans again

A MINUTE of pain was well worth the gain for Julie Forsyth.

The married mum of two with grown up children aged 19 and 22, has always enjoyed being active and sociable. But last year, she was badly affected by a period that lasted six weeks, and was so heavy she felt unable to live a normal life.

Her GP referred her for tests to see if she was beginning an early menopause, but this was not the case.

At Basildon Hospital she had a scan that showed the lining to her womb was very thick. She also had a biopsy that confirmed there were no cancerous cells.

Tesco customer service assistant Julie, 42, who lives in South Ockendon, said: “I continued to have very heavy periods that had a real impact on my work and social life. My employers were very good and understanding but for one week a month I couldn’t go anywhere. One evening when I went out with my daughter it was so bad I had to go home. I missed so many social events and I am not the sort of person to let anything stop me doing things.

“I had been offered a Mirena coil but I had heard mixed reports about it and I don’t need contraception because I have been sterilised. 

“Then I was told at the hospital I could have ablation with Minitouch. A colleague at work had ablation done in an operating theatre and when she heard I was not having an anaesthetic she said ‘that can’t be right.’

“The Minitouch treatment was very painful for a minute, but it was worth it. I had been told to take painkillers before but I hadn’t realised I could also have gas and air, which took the edge off it.”

The majority of women do not have any pain after the treatment but unusually, Julie did experience cramps for a short time after the procedure, and was glad that her husband was with her to drive her home.

She added: “I have not had a period since and I feel fantastic, but I get a bit apprehensive when it is due in case it happens again. 

“I have done Race for Life for years and I couldn’t take part in the last one, but I took part in a charity event that Tesco organised recently and I was thinking ‘I would have missed this’. It is such a relief that I can make plans again.”