Cool Comfort: A Revolutionary Approach for Providers Addressing Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Patients suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) can have a difficult time going about their daily lives. While a normal period involves a blood loss of two to three tablespoons in a cycle, heavy menstrual bleeding can be more than five to six tablespoons.¹ Not only is the more frequent need to change a pad or tampon extremely inconvenient, but sometimes it involves period pain and cramping as well.

Experts have not been able to pin down any one cause of heavy menstrual bleeding, but possibilities range from hormone imbalances to hypothyroidism to endometriosis. HMB has been shown to affect women physically, emotionally, and socially. In fact, one study found that women experiencing HMB have a significantly worse health-related quality of life than those with normal menstruation patterns.² If the patient also experiences pain and cramping every month, menstruation can be especially debilitating.

This leaves women desperately seeking long-term solutions to HMB.

Introducing The Cerene® Cryotherapy Device

Women have a variety of options for managing uncomfortable periods, each with different effectiveness.³ Cerene, a well-tolerated and effective treatment, focuses on reducing HMB by using hypothermic technology to destroy the endometrium and superficial myometrium.

Cooling Relief of Period Bleeding and Pain

An FDA-approved endometrial ablation device, Cerene reduces bleeding by using cooling technology to target and destroy the endometrial lining, successfully decreasing blood flow. This extreme cold not only leads to lighter periods but can also reduce dysmenorrhea because of how the ablation diminishes the source of prostaglandin production, the endometrium.⁴ In fact, 86% of patients reported significantly less cramping one year after treatment with Cerene.^† This can be a welcome alternative for women suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding and a light at the end of the tunnel for those looking for longer-term relief from heavy, painful periods.

Patient Safety Meets Efficiency

Cryotherapy is a practical option for both patients and OBGYNs due to its safety and efficiency. From a clinical perspective, the Cerene Cryotherapy Device’s cavity-conforming liner and thermally-insulating sheath uniformly deliver nitrous oxide across the entire cavity while preventing leakage and protecting adjacent tissue from the effects of cryoablation. Cerene can also be used in the office setting without sedation, presenting an effective and efficient way to perform ablation.

Preservation of Uterine Cavity Access

By prompting a different healing response that results in fewer adhesions and scar tissue formations, the cryotherapy approach can also preserve cavity access. Unlike radiofrequency ablation, which has been associated with a high rate of post-ablation intrauterine synechiae, cryoablation can keep access to the uterine cavity open for future intervention. This marks an advantage for patients that may seek diagnosis or treatment for other gynecological needs post-ablation, and it can be especially critical if symptoms associated with more serious conditions arise. For example, access to the uterine cavity is needed to properly diagnose endometrial cancer.⁵

A Revolutionary Approach

Many women are breathing a sigh of relief at the tolerability, effectiveness, and safety of Cerene, thankful for an innovative solution to a major health challenge that they’ve “learned to live with” each month. Likewise, OBGYNs are experiencing renewed confidence in the outcomes they can achieve, with more positive implications for the future of their patients’ gynecological health.

Visit https://cerene.com/healthcare-professionals/ to learn how to deliver an endometrial ablation treatment that is both safe and effective for your patients.

^†Improvement reported one year after treatment for patients reporting severe/very severe period pain

Key Takeaways

• Cerene treats HMB by using cooling technology to target and gently destroy the endometrial lining
• Cryotherapy can lead to lighter periods and reduced dysmenorrhea after treatment.
• Available for use in the office setting without sedation, Cerene presents an effective and efficient way to perform ablation.
• Cerene can keep access to the uterine cavity open for future medical needs, an advantage for patients that may seek future gynecological treatment.

Sources

1. Sarwinee Ratchanon. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Symptoms and Treatment. MedPark Hospital. Published June 20, 2024. Accessed January 23, 2025. https://www.medparkhospital.com/en-US/disease-and-treatment/heavy-menstrual-bleeding
2. Karlsson TS, Marions LB, Edlund MG. Heavy menstrual bleeding significantly affects quality of life. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 2013;93(1):52-57. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.12292
3. Marjoribanks, J., Lethaby, A., & Farquhar, C. (2016). Surgery versus medical therapy for heavy menstrual bleeding. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2016(1), CD003855. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003855.pub3
4. Milne SA, Jabbour HN. Prostaglandin (PG) F2αReceptor Expression and Signaling in Human Endometrium: Role of PGF2αin Epithelial Cell Proliferation. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2003;88(4):1825-1832. doi:https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2002-021368
5. American Cancer Society. Tests for Endometrial Cancer. www.cancer.org. Published April 22, 2021. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/endometrial-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/how-diagnosed.html