A hysteroscopy is a gynaecological procedure used to examine the inside of the womb (uterus). Apart from diagnostic purposes, hysteroscopy can be used to treat some medical conditions, such as removing endometrial fibroids, polyps and submucous fibroids.
It’s carried out using a hysteroscope, which is a narrow telescope with a light and camera at the end, which helps visualise inside your womb. The hysteroscope is passed into your womb through your vagina and cervix (entrance to the womb), which means no cuts need to be made in your skin.
The procedure can be performed under local or general anaesthesia since it depends on various factors, mainly your tolerance and the size of the tissue(fibroid/polyp).
The hysteroscopic removal of intrauterine lesions usually takes between 5 and 25 minutes depending on the size or nature of what needs to be removed.
Risks with the procedure
They are small, less than two percent. Potential complications can include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Fluid overload
- Perforation of the uterus
References:
- https://www.uhcw.nhs.uk/download/clientfiles/files/Patient%20Information%20Leaflets/Women%20and%20Children_s/Gynaecology/116765_Removal_of_an_endometrial_polyp_or_sub_mucus_fibroid_(1760)_Sept_2017.pdf
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hysteroscopy/