What is a Hysteroscopy?
Mainly, hysteroscopy is executed to diagnose and treat causes of abnormal uterine bleeding. The procedure allows your surgeon to see inside your uterus with the aid of a tool called a hysteroscope. A hysteroscope is a thin, lighted tube that the surgeon inserts through your vagina to examine your cervix and the inside of your uterus.
Hysteroscopy may form part of the diagnostic process and possibly also the treatment process.
Why is a hysteroscopy performed?
A hysteroscopy may be required to examine issues like these:
- Prolonged or erratic intervals
- Fibroids
- Polyps
- Irregular bleeding
- Infertility
- Recurrent miscarriages
You may need a hysteroscopy for treatment to remove:
- Fibroids or polyps
- IUD (intrauterine device)
How to prepare for a hysteroscopy?
In the weeks leading up to your hysteroscopy, you will prepare for it by:
- As you cannot undergo a hysteroscopy if you are pregnant, utilizing contraception to prevent getting pregnant
- Blood testing to check that you are well enough to undergo a hysteroscopy
- Getting a vaginal swab so that you can check that you are infection-free
On the day of the hysteroscopy, you should get ready by:
- Sometimes, before your treatment, you may be asked to fast — that is, refrain from eating or drinking anything for at least six hours.
- Your doctor will advise you on the day of your procedure if you should take your usual medications.
- It may be a good idea to start taking painkillers an hour or so before your hysteroscopy.
What happens during a hysteroscopy?
On the day of the procedure, you will be asked to wear a hospital gown and to urinate. You may be given a sedative or anesthetic to help you relax. Your surgeon’s office or a hospital will decide what kind of anesthesia will be used and whether additional procedures will be done along with the hysteroscopy.
You will lie on the examination table with your legs raised in stirrups. Once positioned, your surgeon will do the following:
- Perform a pelvic examination.
- Dilate (open) your cervix to insert the hysteroscope.
- Gently stretch the uterus, and remove blood and mucus by passing a liquid solution via the hysteroscope. During this stage, your surgeon will see a view of your fallopian tubes, uterus, and lining.
- Examine the entrances to your fallopian tubes and uterus.
- Remove any unusual anomalies if necessary — surgical instruments may be inserted through the hysteroscope.
Hysteroscopies last anywhere from five minutes to over an hour. The duration of the operation is determined by its type — diagnostic or surgical — and whether a concurrent laparoscopy or other procedure is performed. Compared to surgery, diagnostic hysteroscopy often takes less time.
What to expect after a hysteroscopy?
You might be monitored in the recovery room for a few hours if you were given anaesthetic during your hysteroscopy. You may experience mild bleeding or cramps for a few days. Additionally, feeling a little lightheaded or queasy right after your treatment is entirely normal.
What are the risks of hysteroscopy?
The following complications are rare, but they could occur even with a very safe surgery like hysteroscopy:
- Excessive bleeding either during or after the surgery
- An infection inside your uterus, which can result in vaginal discharge, severe bleeding, and a fever
- Tear of the wall of your uterus
- Unintentional harm to your cervix
What are the benefits of hysteroscopy?
Hysteroscopy allows your surgeon to diagnose and treat disorders in many instances with a single procedure.
Furthermore, hysteroscopy allows for more accurate and less invasive surgery. Your surgeon can use hysteroscopy to identify abnormalities and remove them without damaging the healthy tissue surrounding them.
How painful is a hysteroscopy?
The procedure itself should not be painful. However, you may experience some cramping.
Your doctor will prescribe some sedatives for you to take before the procedure, mainly for your comfort. You’ll require a different type of anesthesia based on the purpose of your hysteroscopy. Where you get your hysteroscopy will also have an impact — your doctor’s office or a hospital can perform it.
To facilitate healing following the treatment, your doctor could recommend painkillers.
How long is recovery after a hysteroscopy?
If your treatment just requires local anesthesia, you should be able to leave the doctor’s office in less than an hour.
If your surgery requires regional anesthesia, your doctor might have you stay in the hospital until its effects wear off before going home. It might be more or less than an hour depending on the dosage of anesthesia given.
Even if general anesthesia is needed for your surgery, it will still be outpatient. In a few hours, you’ll be free to go back home. If you’ve already experienced an anesthetic reaction, your doctor may merely recommend an overnight hospital stay for observation.
Before returning to your routine, your doctor might advise you to relax for a day or two if surgery is involved. To recuperate, adhere to your doctor’s advice. Avoiding sexual activity for around a week is advised if your hysteroscopy isn’t just diagnostic. Infection risk is decreased as a result.
When should I see my doctor?
If you experience any of the following symptoms after a hysteroscopy, you need to talk with your doctor:
- Temperature higher than 38°C
- Severe lower abdominal pain
- Heavy bleeding
- Vaginal discharge that smells
- Urinary tract infections that cause pain or burning when passing urine, or frequent trips to the bathroom
Visit the emergency department at the nearest hospital if you cannot see your doctor immediately.
Why Tender Palm IVF & Fertility Center for Hysteroscopy in Lucknow, India?
Tender Palm IVF & Fertility Center offers advanced hysteroscopy in Lucknow, India, to diagnose and treat uterine conditions affecting fertility. Our expert gynecologists use minimally invasive techniques with high-definition equipment to ensure precise results, faster recovery, and minimal discomfort. With personalized care and expert fertility guidance, we help women take confident steps toward successful pregnancy outcomes.