Cerene Endometrial Cryotherapy for Heavy Periods in South Miami, FL
In-Office Cryotherapy Treatment for Heavy, Painful Periods
Heavy, painful periods can affect much more than a few days each month. Patients may miss work, cancel plans with family and friends, change sexual activity, worry about bleeding through clothing, or organize everyday routines around access to a bathroom.
At South Florida Women’s Care, Lucia Gaitan, MD, FACOG, helps patients understand why their periods are difficult and which treatment options may be appropriate. For patients who have completed childbearing, Cerene® Endometrial Cryotherapy offers a minimally invasive, in-office treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding that uses controlled cooling rather than heat to treat the uterine lining.
Dr. Gaitan was the first physician in Miami to offer Cerene and remains the only gynecologist in Miami currently offering it, bringing this innovative cryotherapy treatment to women seeking relief from heavy and painful periods without major surgery.
What Is Cerene Endometrial Cryotherapy?
Cerene is an FDA-approved endometrial cryotherapy treatment for premenopausal patients with heavy menstrual bleeding caused by benign conditions who have completed childbearing.
The treatment targets the endometrium, the tissue lining the inside of the uterus that sheds during menstruation and contributes to menstrual bleeding.
Cerene uses controlled cooling rather than heat to treat this lining. A slender device is gently inserted through the cervix into the uterus, where a flexible liner conforms to the uterine cavity. Cryotherapy is then delivered directly to the endometrium.
The cooling process also provides a natural pain-relieving effect. In clinical studies, patients reported a median pain level of just 2 out of 10 during treatment.
Cerene is performed in the office, without abdominal incisions or general anesthesia, and most patients are able to return to their normal activities quickly.
How Can Cerene Treat Heavy, Painful Periods?
Heavy periods are not measured only by the number of days a patient bleeds. What matters just as much is how much the bleeding and discomfort interfere with everyday life.
Patients may be experiencing heavy or difficult periods if they:
- Soak through a pad or tampon in approximately an hour
- Need to use more than one menstrual product at the same time
- Wake during the night to change menstrual protection
- Have been diagnosed with or treated for iron-deficiency anemia
- Miss work, school, exercise, or travel because of their periods
- Skip social activities with family or friends
- Plan daily activities around menstrual bleeding or access to a bathroom
- Worry about bleeding through their clothing
- Notice that periods interfere with their sex life
- Experience significant menstrual pain or cramping
Cerene treats the endometrial lining that contributes to menstrual bleeding. After treatment, there is less endometrial tissue available to shed during future menstrual cycles, which can make periods considerably lighter and may also reduce menstrual cramping.
Menstruation does not always stop completely after Cerene.
The goal is to make periods manageable again so patients no longer have to organize their lives around them.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Cerene Cryotherapy?
Cerene is intended for premenopausal patients with heavy menstrual bleeding from benign causes who have completed childbearing.
It may be an option for patients who:
- Experience heavy menstrual bleeding that interferes with everyday life
- Have painful periods or significant menstrual cramping
- Have completed childbearing
- Want a minimally invasive treatment option
- Prefer an in-office procedure rather than more extensive surgery
- Have been appropriately evaluated for the cause of their abnormal bleeding
A consultation is important because heavy menstrual bleeding can have many different causes.
Before recommending treatment, Dr. Gaitan evaluates the patient’s symptoms, medical history, previous treatments, reproductive plans, and whether another gynecologic condition may be contributing to the bleeding.
Cerene is not appropriate for patients who:
- Are pregnant
- Want to become pregnant in the future
- Have or may have uterine cancer
- Have an active genital, urinary, or pelvic infection
- Have an IUD in place at the time of treatment
- Have another condition that makes Cerene inappropriate
Pregnancy can still occur after treatment and can be dangerous. Cerene is not contraception, so patients who can become pregnant must continue using birth control until menopause.
What Makes Cerene Cryotherapy Different?
What distinguishes Cerene from many other procedures used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding is its use of controlled cooling technology rather than heat.
Once the Cerene device is positioned inside the uterus, cryotherapy treats the endometrial lining while the cooling itself provides a natural pain-relieving effect.
In clinical studies, the median reported pain score during treatment was 2 out of 10, and 92% of patients reported pain at or below the acceptable median pain score.
Cerene is also designed to:
- Be performed in the physician’s office
- Avoid abdominal incisions
- Avoid general anesthesia
- Minimize downtime
- Allow most patients to return to normal daily activities quickly
- Preserve access to the uterine cavity for possible future gynecologic evaluation
This combination makes Cerene an important option for appropriately selected patients who want effective treatment for heavy periods without a major surgical procedure.
How Should Patients Prepare for Cerene Treatment?
Patients can generally eat a normal meal before their appointment and should wear comfortable clothing.
Because preparation, medication, the procedure itself, and recovery all take place in the office, patients should plan to spend approximately one to two hours at South Florida Women’s Care on the day of treatment.
Before the procedure, patients may receive medication to help minimize cramping, anxiety, or discomfort. Depending on the medications used, someone may need to drive the patient home afterward.
Patients should tell our team about:
- Current medications
- Medication allergies
- Contraception
- IUD use
- Previous uterine procedures
- Recent infections
- The possibility of pregnancy
- Any recent change in menstrual bleeding
This is also an opportunity to review the procedure and ask any remaining questions before treatment begins.
What Happens During Cerene Treatment?
Cerene is designed to be performed in the comfort and privacy of the physician’s office rather than in an operating room.
Once the patient is comfortable:
- The Cerene device is gently passed through the cervix and positioned inside the uterus.
- Safety checks are completed to confirm appropriate placement.
- A flexible liner conforms to the shape of the uterine cavity.
- Controlled cryotherapy is delivered to the endometrial lining.
- The device is removed once treatment is complete.
The active cryotherapy portion lasts approximately 2½ minutes, and the Cerene device is typically inside the uterus for approximately seven minutes total, including insertion, safety checks, treatment, and removal.
The entire office visit generally takes approximately one to two hours when preparation, medication, treatment, and recovery are included.
Patients may experience menstrual-like cramping when the device is first placed. Once the cooling process begins, the cryotherapy itself has a natural pain-relieving effect.
Additional medication for anxiety or discomfort can be provided when appropriate.
After the procedure, our team monitors the patient during recovery, reviews postoperative instructions, and makes sure she is comfortable before leaving the office.
What Does Cerene Recovery Look Like?
Recovery after Cerene is generally brief.
Most patients report returning to their usual daily activities within approximately 24 hours, although every patient is different.
Some menstrual-like cramping following the procedure is expected. Temporary symptoms can also include lightheadedness, spotting, bleeding, or vaginal discharge.
Vaginal discharge is a normal part of the healing process. It may initially be bloody and later become more watery before gradually decreasing. For many patients, discharge lasts approximately two to four weeks, although it may occasionally continue longer.
Patients should follow the postoperative instructions provided by South Florida Women’s Care and contact the office for concerning symptoms such as increasing pelvic or abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, fever, or foul-smelling discharge.
Menstrual changes also take time.
Patients should not judge their final result based on the first period after treatment. Bleeding patterns can continue to change over the following several months as the uterine lining heals.
Cerene Results: What Can Patients Expect After Treatment?
Cerene is designed to help patients regain control over periods that may have been controlling their routines for years.
Clinical studies have shown meaningful improvements in menstrual bleeding, menstrual pain, daily activities, and patient satisfaction.
One year after Cerene treatment:
- 90% of patients reported normal, light, or no periods
- 90% reported being satisfied with Cerene
- 95% said they would recommend Cerene to family or friends
- 86% of patients who previously experienced severe or very severe menstrual cramping reported improvement
- 9 out of 10 patients reported little to no limitation in their activities
Patient-reported results at one year remained durable through three years of follow-up.
Individual results can vary.
For someone who has spent years carrying extra menstrual products, canceling plans, worrying about accidents, arranging travel around a period, or pushing through severe cramping, successful treatment can mean much more than lighter bleeding.
It can mean getting ordinary life back.
Why Choose Dr. Lucia Gaitan for Cerene in Miami?
Lucia Gaitan, MD, FACOG, is a board-certified OB/GYN and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon with extensive experience evaluating and treating heavy menstrual bleeding and other gynecologic conditions.
Dr. Gaitan was the first physician in Miami to offer Cerene Endometrial Cryotherapy and remains the only gynecologist in Miami currently offering it.
At South Florida Women’s Care, the goal is not simply to treat the bleeding. It is to first understand why it is happening.
Dr. Gaitan evaluates each patient individually to determine whether Cerene—or another medical, hysteroscopic, or surgical treatment—is the most appropriate option.
For patients who are candidates, Cerene provides a minimally invasive way to treat heavy menstrual bleeding in the office with controlled cooling technology and minimal interruption to everyday life.
Schedule a Cerene Consultation in South Miami
Your period should not determine how you live your life.
If heavy or painful menstrual bleeding is affecting work, exercise, travel, relationships, sleep, or everyday activities, Dr. Gaitan can evaluate the cause and help you understand your treatment options.
South Florida Women’s Care provides Cerene consultations for patients in South Miami, Dadeland, Kendall, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, and throughout the greater Miami area.
Call (305) 661-7760 or request an appointment online to learn whether Cerene Endometrial Cryotherapy may help make your periods lighter, less painful, and easier to manage.
Cerene FAQs
Cerene is different because it uses controlled cooling, or cryotherapy, to treat the endometrial lining. Many other procedural treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding use heat-based technologies. Dr. Gaitan can explain the differences between available treatment options and which may be most appropriate for an individual patient.
Patients should plan to spend approximately one to two hours in the office on the day of their procedure. This includes preparation, medication when appropriate, the Cerene treatment itself, and recovery before going home.
The Cerene device is typically in the uterus for approximately seven minutes, with about 2½ minutes of active cryotherapy.
Cerene is designed to be performed in the physician’s office without general anesthesia. Medication may be provided before or during the procedure to help reduce cramping, anxiety, or discomfort when appropriate.
Patients may experience menstrual-like cramping, particularly during placement of the device. The cooling process itself provides a natural pain-relieving effect.
In clinical studies, the median pain score during Cerene treatment was 2 out of 10.
Most patients report returning to their normal daily activities within approximately 24 hours after treatment, although individual recovery varies.
Vaginal discharge is common while the uterus heals. For many patients, it lasts approximately two to four weeks, although it can occasionally continue longer.
It may initially appear bloody and then become more watery before gradually decreasing.
Menstrual bleeding may continue to change during the months following treatment as the uterine lining heals. Patients should not use their first period after Cerene to judge their final result.
It may, but that is not the goal or a guaranteed outcome.
Cerene is designed to significantly reduce heavy menstrual bleeding. One year after treatment, 90% of patients reported normal, light, or no periods.
It may.
Among patients in clinical studies who experienced severe or very severe menstrual cramping before treatment, 86% reported improvement one year after Cerene.
Pregnancy is still possible after Cerene treatment, but it can be dangerous.
Cerene is intended only for patients who have completed childbearing. It is not a form of contraception, and patients who can become pregnant must continue using birth control until menopause.
The first step is determining why the heavy bleeding is occurring.
Dr. Gaitan evaluates symptoms, medical history, previous treatments, reproductive plans, and any underlying gynecologic conditions before recommending Cerene or another treatment option.
Medically reviewed by Lucia Gaitan, MD, FACOG
Board-Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist & Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon
Medical Director, South Florida Women’s Care