Endometrial ablation doesn’t typically affect your weight. However, surgery of any kind may cause changes in your weight.

Endometrial ablation is a surgical procedure that involves destroying the lining of the uterus. This procedure could reduce heavy periods. Although endometrial ablation itself doesn’t usually affect your weight, you may temporarily lose or gain weight around the surgery.

Surgical procedures may affect your weight for a few reasons. For example, stress around the procedure may increase or decrease your appetite. Postsurgical fluid retention can cause your weight to increase temporarily.

This is rarely a cause for concern. If you’re hoping to lose or gain weight after endometrial ablation, both are possible.

Although endometrial ablation shouldn’t affect your weight, it can cause temporary changes in your weight.

Weight loss

Doctors advise some people to lose weight before surgery. Others may find that they unintentionally lose weight before or after surgery, although this is usually temporary.

Weight loss before surgery may be because of the following:

  • Loss of fluids: You may retain fluids just after surgery and then lose them. This may cause your weight to decrease soon after surgery.
  • Loss of appetite: Surgery can be stressful and anxiety-inducing. This can affect your appetite. Your appetite may decrease before or after surgery, leading to weight loss.

Losing weight around surgery isn’t usually isn’t something to worry about. However, if you’re worried about your weight loss or you feel that it’s drastic, consider speaking with your surgeon or another doctor.

Weight gain

Many people find that they gain weight after surgery. This change is often temporary.

You may gain weight after endometrial ablation because of the following:

  • Retaining fluid: You may retain more fluids after surgeries. This usually goes away after a few days. Your doctor may prescribe a diuretic to help reduce this swelling.
  • Eating comfort food: Surgery can be stressful, and you may engage in emotional eating before and after your surgery. This can cause weight gain.
  • Being sedentary: During your recovery period, it’s advisable to avoid strenuous activity. Before returning to your regular exercise routine, you may find that you’ve gained weight.

You’ll probably lose this weight as time passes.

Recovery from an endometrial ablation usually takes a few days, although it may take a few weeks if there are any complications. After you recover, you can return to your regular exercise routine. Consider starting with gentle exercises, like Yin Yoga or walking.

Weight gain after surgery is rarely a cause for concern. However, if you’ve gained weight and are concerned that it may be a symptom of an underlying condition, consider speaking with a healthcare professional.

Although endometrial ablation can reduce heavy periods and thus improve your quality of life, you may also experience some side effects after surgery.

After endometrial ablation, you may experience:

These side effects typically are not something to worry about.

After endometrial ablation, you should seek immediate medical attention if you have:

These side effects could be a symptom of infection.

Weight changes around endometrial ablation aren’t common, but it isn’t something that you need to worry about. However, if your weight changes are bothering you or if you worry that they’re drastic, consider speaking with a healthcare professional.

If you’d like to gain or lose weight, consider speaking with a doctor or a registered dietitian. Additionally, if you’d like to start an exercise routine, you may find it helpful to consult with a physical therapist.

If you feel that your mental state has affected your weight — for example, if your appetite has disappeared or significantly increased — it may be a good idea to seek out a therapist. Although emotional eating isn’t inherently a bad thing, it may become a problem if it’s causing you distress.

While endometrial ablation itself doesn’t cause a change in weight, you may gain or lose weight around the time of your surgery. This isn’t a worrying sign. These changes are usually temporary.

If you’re concerned about your changes in weight, consider speaking with your surgeon or another healthcare professional.

Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information.