Dare to Wear White....and receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

I think this is probably the first review opportunity I've had that made my jaw drop. Not because of the subject matter, although it might be considered taboo to some (but REALLY needs to be talked about among women).

No, the reason for my shock was that I had just had the procedure that is being reviewed done myself less than a year ago. The procedure is called the NovaSure® Endometrial Ablation System and is done on women who are finished having children to stop heavy periods.

According to the National Women's Health Resource Center, 1 in 5 women experience heavy periods. That equates into 10 million women in the U.S. alone.

Take a look at these results from a recent Mom Central survey of more than 1,300 women who indicated they have heavy periods:

• 75% of women reported that their heavy periods negatively impact their quality of life by disrupting their family and social life, regular activities, and moods.
• Almost 60% said that their periods negatively affect their sexual relationships.
• More than 50% of women with heavy periods said that they dread leaving the house on their worst days.

I can certainly relate to all of the above. Because I have endometriosis, I have always suffered from heavy periods. But in the last couple of years, it had become unbearable.

I'll forewarn you. I'm going to be brutally honest and graphic here. I believe this needs to be discussed and I believe that women who are suffering as I did need to hear this and know that there is hope.

My periods were so heavy that I was becoming extremely weak each month. I could not wear tampons, as they could not contain the blood flow. I would wear two overnight pads that I would have to change every couple of hours.

Many times, however, I would bleed so heavily that no amount of coverage would help. I clearly remember one evening having just put on two overnights and driving five minutes from my home to pick up dinner at a McDonald's drive-through. I was home within ten to fifteen minutes, but in just that short amount of time, I had bled so heavily that the seat of my van was covered.

At other times, if I would try to use the bathroom, the mere act of pulling my pants down (and thus not having any coverage for a brief moment) would result in blood and large clots escaping down my legs.

I would have to sleep with towels underneath me at night to protect my mattress. I dreaded leaving the house, going to the pool (that was out of the question actually), exercise, etc. at that time of the month. And I would never Dare to Wear White.

My doctor informed me of a procedure that is quick, minimally invasive, and hormone-free and that would finally rid me of this horrible problem. You must be done with childbearing, and that part was hard for me to accept. But I knew my husband did not want anymore children, so I went ahead with the the NovaSure® Endometrial Ablation System.



Despite the large percentage of women who suffer from heavy periods, Mom Central's survey revealed that only 14% of women know about this treatment option. To me, that is very sad!

With the Novasure ablation, there are no hormones. No hysterectomy. Just a one-time, minimally invasive procedure that takes less than five minutes to complete. It can be performed in a doctor's office, or under general anesthesia (I had mine done under anesthesia along with a few other procedures for my endometriosis).

As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects that should be discussed with your physician.

Take a look at these official results, courtesy of Mom Central:

"Clinical trial results show that more than 9 out of 10 women who have had the NovaSure procedure returned to normal or lower than normal levels of bleeding, and about 40% had no periods at all. In addition, 93% of women treated with the NovaSure procedure were satisfied with their results, and 97% said they would recommend it to a friend.

For me, it was the best thing I could have ever done for my body. My periods are almost non-existent now. I barely spot and haven't needed anything heavier than a pantyliner (and sometimes not even that). I can now go to the pool, sleep normally, not feel like I'm wearing a diaper every month.



And? I can now Dare to Wear White. DaretoWearWhite.com is "a place where women can share experiences and feelings about this very private subject and learn more about treatment options so they can actively seek help."

If you suffer from heavy periods, be sure to check out Dare to Wear White, a valuable resource and place of support. Ask questions, share your story, and/or request a brochure from the site.

There is also a short, easy survey where you can share your experiences and offer your feedback. The first 250 eligible women (i.e. those who have heavy periods and are finished having children) who complete the survey will receive a $10 Amazon gift certificate as a thank you for their participation.

Don't let heavy periods control your life anymore. Here's to all women being able to wear white!