Hysteroscopy

Some of the common reasons for needing this operation are having:

• abnormal periods
• difficulty becoming pregnant
• had an ultrasound that shows changes in the lining of the uterus (endometrium).

Looking inside your uterus can help us make a diagnosis and makes it easier to take a good biopsy.

In certain situations, your hospital doctor may treat a problem (such as fibroids or polyps) through a hysteroscope, but this is less common.

You are put under for this procedure.

Once you are asleep, your legs are placed in stirrups, and we do a vaginal examination to check the shape, size and position of your uterus. This helps us decide what direction to place our instruments and camera.

Your cervix is then gently opened (dilated) to allow the camera through into your uterine cavity.

Your hospital doctor will take photos of what they see and then use a small instrument (curette) to take a thorough sample for further testing.  If there is a polyp (similar to a skin tag on the inside of the uterus), we can usually remove it at the same time.

All samples taken are then sent to the lab for testing.

The risk of having a complication in diagnostic hysteroscopy is estimated to be about 1 in 1000.

The main risks to be aware of

Damage to the cervix or uterus

This is uncommon and rarely leads to ongoing health problems. It may mean an extra night in hospital, a small stitch to stop bleeding or a course of antibiotics. Less commonly, further surgery can be needed if there is heavy bleeding or if your surgeon is worried there may be damage to other internal organs such as the bowel or bladder.

Bleeding

This is usually treated simply with medication or pressure.

Infection

Infection usually comes on within a few days of the operation. The main symptoms are lower abdominal pain, fever, bleeding and vaginal discharge. Most of these can be treated at home with oral antibiotics, but occasionally antibiotics into your vein are needed in a hospital setting.