What is a hysteroscopy, and what does it feel like?

Why a hysteroscopy is done

• Heavy or irregular periods, or bleeding between periods
• Any bleeding after menopause
• Polyps or a fibroid inside the cavity seen on a scan
• Difficulty getting pregnant or repeated miscarriage, to check the shape of the cavity
• Scar tissue inside the womb (adhesions)
• A coil that cannot be found or removed in the clinic

What happens during it

You lie as for a smear test. The doctor gently opens the vagina with a speculum and passes a narrow telescope through the cervix. Fluid fills the womb so the camera can see clearly, and the picture shows on a screen. A sample of the lining may be taken, and polyps or small fibroids can often be removed at the same time with tiny instruments. The look itself usually takes only a few minutes; treatment adds a little longer.

Some centres do hysteroscopy awake in the clinic with painkillers, and others do it under a short anaesthetic or sedation. On Mezo it is a day case with a short anaesthetic included in the price, so you are comfortable and unaware during it.

What it feels like

Done awake, most women feel cramping like a strong period pain, which settles soon after. Some feel very little; some find it painful. You can ask to stop at any time. Under anaesthetic, you will not feel the procedure, but expect some cramping and light bleeding afterwards.

Preparing for your hysteroscopy

• It is best done when you are not bleeding heavily, often in the week after your period ends
• You must not be pregnant: use contraception or avoid sex from your period until the procedure, and you may be asked for a pregnancy test
• If you are having an anaesthetic, do not eat or drink for the hours your instructions give
• Take a painkiller such as ibuprofen an hour before if you are having it awake, unless you cannot take it
• Arrange someone to take you home if you have sedation or anaesthetic, and bring sanitary pads

Afterwards

Cramping and light bleeding for a few days are normal. Use pads rather than tampons, and avoid sex until the bleeding stops, to lower the risk of infection. Most women are back to normal activities the next day. Results of any sample usually come back in a couple of weeks.

Call the doctor if you have heavy bleeding, fever, a smelly discharge or pain that is getting worse. These can mean infection or, rarely, an injury to the womb.

Common questions