What is Hysteroscopy?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Hysteroscopy?
Hysteroscopy is a procedure done by the doctor to look inside the uterus (womb) of a woman. This procedure is commonly done for diagnosis of the various bleeding problems in women, removal of polyps (abnormal growth body tissue attached to the inner wall of the uterus) or fibroids (non-cancerous growth in the uterus), or to perform sterilization procedures.
The procedure is done using a hysteroscope, which is a thin tube with a light on one end. The hysteroscope is inserted into the vagina for the examination of the cervix (a neck of tissue connecting the vagina and the uterus) and the inside of the uterus.
In today’s article, we will be talking in detail about hysteroscopy.
- What is the purpose of a Hysteroscopy?
- What is the diagnostic procedure before a Hysteroscopy?
- How to prepare for Hysteroscopy?
- What is the procedure for Hysteroscopy?
- How to care after a Hysteroscopy?
- What are the complications of a Hysteroscopy?
- What is the cost of Hysteroscopy in India?
What is the purpose of a Hysteroscopy?
There are two main types of hysteroscopy procedures:
- Diagnostic hysteroscopy: A diagnostic hysteroscopy needs to be performed in the following cases:
- For diagnosing the cause of repeated miscarriages, if a woman has suffered two or more miscarriages in a row.
- For the diagnosis of conditions like polyps or fibroids, which are non-cancerous growths in the uterus.
- For diagnosing the cause of infertility, in case a woman is unable to get pregnant even after one year of trying. .( Know more about- What are the reasons of infertility in women? )
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- For the diagnosis of the cause of pelvic (region below the stomach or the abdomen) pain.
- For the diagnosis of the cause of abnormal menstrual bleeding.
- Operative hysteroscopy: An operative hysteroscopy is performed in the following cases:
- For the removal of adhesions, which are the scars formed following a surgery or an infection, and are binding the tissues together inside the uterus. Adhesions can lead to complications like reduction in fertility and stopping the menstrual periods.
- For the removal of fibroids or other uterine growths.
- For performing a sterilization procedure.
- For locating and removing an intrauterine device that has been inserted into the uterus for birth control. ( Know more about- What is Uterine Fibroids Treatment? Purpose, Procedure, Aftercare, Cost )
- For performing a biopsy (a small part of the tissue growth is excised and sent to the laboratory for investigation).
What is the diagnostic procedure before a Hysteroscopy?
- Physical examination: The doctor will first physically examine the patient. This will include noting down the medical history of the patient, and evaluation of the overall health of the patient.
- Pelvic examination: The doctor will insert one or two gloved fingers inside the vagina of the patient to check the vagina and uterus of the patient.
- Blood tests: The doctor may recommend blood tests to check for the vital parameters of the patient, and any underlying infections.
- Ultrasound: A pelvic ultrasound may be recommended by the doctor, in which sound waves are used to create images of the reproductive organs of the body. This procedure is helpful in the diagnosis of any tissue growth or other abnormalities that may be present in the uterus.
- Pregnancy test: Hysteroscopy is not performed in the case of a pregnant woman. It is therefore advisable to take a pregnancy test one week before the procedure to rule out pregnancy, and the patient is advised to use appropriate contraception in between.
How to prepare for Hysteroscopy?
- The patient should inform the doctor of any pre-existing medical condition that she may be suffering from.
- The patient should inform the doctor if she is taking any medications, supplements, or herbs.
- The doctor should be informed if the patient is pregnant or could be pregnant.
- The doctor will ask the patient to stop taking any blood-thinning medications like aspirin and warfarin that the patient may be taking a few days before the surgery.
- The patient is instructed to quit smoking at least two weeks before the surgery.
- The doctor may recommend some medication to open the cervix, which makes it easier to insert the hysteroscope. This medicine needs to be taken 8 to 12 hours before the procedure.
- The patient is instructed to not eat or drink anything after midnight the day before the surgery.
What is the procedure for Hysteroscopy?
- Hysteroscopy procedure is performed under local anesthesia (the surgical area is made numb) or under general anesthesia (the patient is put to sleep during the procedure).
- The doctor will first widen the cervix with a tool called a speculum.
- A hysteroscope is then inserted through the vaginal opening. The hysteroscope is moved through the cervix into the uterus.
- A carbon dioxide gas or a liquid is then gently sent into the uterus through the device for clearing the surface and helping it to widen slightly.
- The camera and the light present on one end of a hysteroscope allow the doctor to view the uterus and the fallopian tubes (tubes in which the eggs travel from the ovaries to the uterus). This allows the surgeon to diagnose a condition or to perform any surgical procedures. ( Know more about- What is the Female Fertility Panel? Purpose, Procedure, Results )
- In the case of a surgical hysteroscopy, the surgical tools are also put through the hysteroscope tube for performing the surgery.
- The hysteroscopy procedure may take 5 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on the purpose of the hysteroscopy.
How to care after a Hysteroscopy?
- The patient usually goes home on the same day after the procedure. Rarely, the patient may require an overnight stay in the hospital.
- Most women can resume their normal activities the day after the procedure.
- It is normal to have some bleeding or spotting for a few days after the procedure.
- A woman may experience some pain, similar to the cramping experienced during menstrual periods, for a few days after the procedure.
- The patient is advised to avoid sex for a week, or till bleeding stops to reduce the chances of infection.
What are the complications of a Hysteroscopy?
The following complications may be associated with a hysteroscopy procedure:
- Bloody discharge
- Pain or cramping. (Know more about-First Month of Pregnancy:Signs, Physical changes, Fetus, Tests, Precautions)
- Damage to the uterus (womb)
- Womb infections
- Fever
- Chills
- Discharge with a foul odor ( Know more about- What is Vaginal Irritation? Treatments, Home remedies, Complications )
- Damage to the cervix
- Dizziness
- Excessive bleeding during the surgery or after the surgery ( Know more about- What is C-section delivery? Purpose, Procedure, Aftercare, Cost )
- Intrauterine scarring
The patient should inform the doctor if any of the above symptoms are seen after a hysteroscopy.
What is the cost of Hysteroscopy in India?
The total cost of hysteroscopy in India can range from around INR 20,000 to INR 50,000. However, the cost of surgery may vary across different hospitals. There are many big hospitals and specialized doctors in India for hysteroscopy. But the cost varies across different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, in addition to the expenses of hysteroscopy surgery, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. Apart from this, after the surgery, the patient is kept in hospital for 1 day and in the hotel for 5 days for recovery. So, the total cost of hysteroscopy in India comes to be around INR 30,000 to INR 70,000.
We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding Hysteroscopy through this article.
If you want to get more information and treatment of Hysteroscopy, you can contact a Gynecologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
