What Is a Hysteroscopy?
Hysteroscopy is a kind of medical checkup where doctors use a tiny camera to see inside the uterus. They can find and fix problems like issues with the lining of the uterus, unusual bleeding, growths called fibroids, or small growths called uterine polyps. Doctors will perform general anesthesia while doing hysteroscopy.
During a hysteroscopy procedure, doctors use a special tool called a hysteroscope. The process is basically named after that. It’s a sleek and highly flexible device with a camera and a light on one end. They put this hysteroscope through your cervix (the opening to the uterus) and into your uterus. To diagnose better, they fill the uterus with a liquid or gas. This helps the doctor check the lining of your uterus, find any problems, and do any needed surgery.
Categories of Hysteroscopy
Diagnostic hysteroscopy
When women have problems like unusual bleeding, doctors might do a hysteroscopy to figure out why it's happening. They might also do this procedure along with other tests like ultrasound or hysterosalpingography to make sure of their diagnosis. Hysteroscopy helps diagnose conditions such as unusual uterine bleeding, uterine fibroids, uterine polyps, adhesions, and even endometrial cancer.
Operative hysteroscopy
Minor surgical interventions are carried out during this sort of hysteroscopic treatment. To treat the underlying difficulties, this type of hysteroscopy can be performed in conjunction with diagnostic hysteroscopy. Hysteroscopic polypectomy, endometrial ablation, myomectomy, septoplasty, adhesiolysis, and other operations can be performed with hysteroscopic hysteroscopy.
Why Hysteroscopy is a Preferred Choice?
The most common reason for a hysteroscopy is abnormally long or heavy periods, or bleeding between cycles. This test may be required if:
- You are bleeding following menopause.
- You desire a long-term method of birth control.
- Difficulty in pregnancy.
- You wish to get an IUD removed.
- There was more than one miscarriage.
Uses of Hysteroscopy Diagnosis
A hysteroscopy is better to diagnose
- Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis
- Uterine Abnormalities Treatment
- Hysteroscopy and other procedures like Polypectomy, Septoplasty, and so on.
- Aid in the discovery of the cause of infertility, defined as the inability to become pregnant after at least a year of trying.
- Polyps and fibroids and different other forms of uterine abnormal growths. They are not generally malignant.
- Scar tissue in the uterus should be removed.
- A biopsy is a surgical operation that involves the removal of a tiny sample of tissue for testing.
How to Prepare for Hysteroscopy
Before deciding if a hysteroscopy is right for you, doctors will check your body and ask about your symptoms. If you’re pregnant or have an infection in your pelvic area, they usually won’t suggest a hysteroscopy for you.
To get ready for a hysteroscopy, here are some basic steps to follow:
- Feel free to ask the doctor any questions you have about the procedure.
- Let the doctor know about any medications or supplements you’re currently taking.
- For general anesthesia, you might need to avoid eating or drinking for 6-12 hours before the procedure. Avoid using douche, tampons, or vaginal medicines for 24 hours before the test.
- It’s a good idea to plan your hysteroscopy for a time when you’re not on your period. If your period unexpectedly starts, inform your doctor, as you might need to reschedule.
- Also, inform your healthcare provider if you’re pregnant or suspect that you might be. Hysteroscopy isn’t safe for pregnant women and could harm an unborn baby.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting attire.
What Happens During a Hysteroscopy? Understanding the Procedure
Hysteroscopy is typically done as an outpatient procedure, and it often involves the use of general anesthesia. Post procedure the patient is released on the same day if there’s no other complication. Let’s take a closer look at what happens during the procedure.
During a hysteroscopy you:
- Need to empty your bladder
- Depending on where the procedure is done and if other treatments are planned, you might receive anesthesia or a sedative to help you relax.
- The doctor will begin by inserting a speculum into your vagina, which is similar to what happens during a regular gynecological exam.
- Next, they’ll gently insert the hysteroscope device through your cervix and into your uterus.
- To clear the view and slightly widen the uterine surface, a liquid or carbon dioxide gas will be sent into your uterus through the device.
- The hysteroscope has a light and camera on the end, allowing the doctor to see inside your uterus and even your fallopian tubes. This helps them diagnose any problems or perform necessary surgical procedures.
- The duration of the hysteroscopy can vary widely, from as short as five minutes to over an hour. It depends on whether it’s a diagnostic hysteroscopy or an operative one and if any additional procedures are being done. Generally, diagnostic hysteroscopies take less time than operative ones.
What Happens After the Process?
After the hysteroscopy, you need to rest a few hours in the recovery room. Once you are stable, you can head home. However, if you received local or general anesthesia, it’s important to have someone drive you. Before you leave, your doctor will provide instructions on how to take care of yourself after the surgery.
- After the procedure, most patients can go home the same day, but sometimes an overnight stay might be needed.
- You might experience mild cramps and some bleeding for a few days afterward. To reduce the risk of infection, you might be advised to avoid sexual intercourse and using tampons for at least a week.
- If you feel uncomfortable, your doctor might prescribe pain medication. Be sure to get in touch with your doctor if you have severe pain, a fever, or heavy bleeding following the procedure.
- Depending on the results, your doctor might suggest more tests, extra procedures, or different treatments.
- To ensure a smooth recovery, it’s important to rest and avoid strenuous activities for a few days after the procedure. Follow all the post-operative instructions provided by your doctor carefully.
Advantages of Hysteroscopy
Hysteroscopy procedure comes with a number of benefits. However, perform both diagnostic and surgical procedures at the same time using minimally invasive techniques, leading to:
- Precise surgical intervention.
- Reduced risk of complications.
- Minimal trauma and discomfort.
- Faster recovery.
- Shorter hospital stay.
What Are the Risks involved?
Hysteroscopy is generally a very safe procedure. It’s common to experience mild cramps and some light bleeding for a few days afterward. While serious complications are rare, they could include heavy bleeding, infection, or tears in the uterus.
Some more complications like:
- Uncommon occurrence of cervical tearing or damage
- The rare chance of gastric problems or fluid discharge from the uterus
- Rare risk of damage to organs like the bowel, bladder, or ovaries
- Post-procedure complications
- Occasional development of pelvic inflammatory disease
Recovery
- If your hysteroscopy is performed in a doctor’s office using only local anesthesia, you can typically expect to be discharged in less than an hour.
- In cases where regional anesthesia is necessary, your doctor may advise you to remain under observation until the effects of the anesthesia have subsided. The duration of this observation may vary but is generally within an hour, although it can be longer depending on the amount of anesthesia administered.
- For hysteroscopies requiring general anesthesia, it is still considered an outpatient procedure. However, if you have a history of adverse reactions to anesthesia, your doctor may recommend an overnight stay in the hospital for observation.
- If your hysteroscopy involves surgical interventions, your doctor may recommend a day or two of rest before resuming your regular activities. It is essential to closely follow your doctor’s post-procedure recovery instructions to ensure a smooth recuperation process.
Cost of a hysteroscopy
The total cost of the hysteroscopy can differ depending on the purpose of the procedure and whether additional tests or surgeries are required. Generally, a diagnostic-only hysteroscopy is less expensive compared to a procedure involving surgery. If your hysteroscopy involves more complex surgical steps, such as hospital surgery with general anesthesia, the cost may be higher.
Serious damage during hysteroscopy is uncommon. In rare instances, uterine perforation can occur either during cervical dilation or when inserting the hysteroscope.
No, there are no stitches involved in a hysteroscopy. During the procedure, the cervix is dilated (widened), and a telescope is used to examine the inside of the uterus. Sometimes, a sample of the uterine lining is taken for further examination, or polyps and fibroids can be removed using the hysteroscope. Importantly, this procedure does not require any cuts or stitches to the abdomen.
After a hysteroscopy, it’s typical to experience vaginal bleeding for about 7 to 10 days. This bleeding may be heavier than your regular menstrual period and can have start-and-stop patterns. These variations in bleeding are generally considered normal during the post-hysteroscopy recovery period.
Hysteroscopy is a frequently used diagnostic procedure by our fertility specialists to assist patients facing infertility issues. In the context of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a hysteroscopy is performed to ensure that your uterus is in good health, creating a suitable environment for an embryo to successfully implant and develop.
By addressing scar tissue and uterine abnormalities through hysteroscopy, the chances of successful embryo implantation increase significantly. This improvement in the uterine environment enhances the likelihood of a successful IVF pregnancy.
Hysteroscopy is frequently used to evaluate and address concerns in women facing challenges with infertility, experiencing irregular uterine bleeding, or having recurrent miscarriages. When it comes to infertility, medical professionals utilize diagnostic hysteroscopy to pinpoint irregularities in the structure of the uterus, such as the presence of uterine fibroids, polyps, or scarring, which could be factors contributing to these specific problems.
Utilizing hysteroscopy to remove polyps and other abnormalities in the uterine cavity can potentially enhance the prospects of pregnancy for women experiencing unexplained infertility. In certain instances, successful live births have been documented when employing invasive techniques like hysteroscopy, HSG (Hysterosalpingography), laparoscopy, and chromotubation as part of the pregnancy journey.
