Tell me about your hysteroscopy

[DeedIDo]

I'm due to have one in a couple of weeks to look for the cause of explained bleeding. Loads of stuff online suggests it is an ordeal and should really be done under sedation (like colonoscopy) or GA. Is that right, or is it actually OK for most people?

Have you had one? What was your experience?

Thanks

It was fine, uncomfortable but literally took minutes and the staff were lovely. I was quite nervous as I hate smear tests but just focussed on breathing and a shadow on the ceiling. Good luck and try not to worry

I had a general anesthetic. I didn't like smears and didn't want to be awake for that.
It was over really quickly.

I had one recently and had it under GA - a combination of personal reasons and not wanting to risk the pain that some women experience. I was incredibly nervous and fully prepared for a battle with my Consultant but she was amazing and offered me the full range of options from being awake & no pain relief, being awake & local anaesthetic, being sedated, or full GA.

The GA was brilliant - I was in and out in no time, and back on the ward and being offered tea or coffee and a choice of sandwiches! I bled afterwards but they'd put a pad in while I was under the GA and nurses were brilliant - very respectful and kind. I took some paracetamol to manage the pain afterwards which wasn't that bad. I was back working from home the next day, but if that's not an option I would suggest taking a day off to recover.

Good luck

I’ve had three, I was terrified the first time. The staff were incredibly lovely and my husband was allowed in to hold my hand. Once I relaxed, they spent a lot of time talking to me and promised to stop if I was unhappy, I found it was fine. I had biopsies taken and they had a good look around. Each time the staff have been amazing, they must appreciate women are scared and do a very good job. I wouldn’t have a GA personally and it’s worth giving it a go. You get tea and biscuits afterwards

I had one without GA or sedation. For me it was fine and I got to watch which was super cool (how often to most of us get to see what we look like inside?). That said I know I don’t do well with sedation or GA so I am more than happy to take some discomfort to avoid the after effects of those. Appreciate I may be a minority though in these things

I had one today, without a GA or sedation. I was advised to take 2 paracetamol an hour before the appointment but the staff doing it said that if it was at all painful they would stop immediately. I was absolutely fine though and they did a biopsy and removed three polyps. I've had a bit of a crampy tummy (like period pains) this afternoon but have been resting, as they advised. It wasn't painful at all and I'd be ok having another. The staff were all lovely.

Have had several - both under GA and awake. When awake was OK. Not comfortable but I survived. Crampy when they did it and afterwards. That was with adhesions in my cervix too. Bit sharp when they went in. Not dissimilar to coil fitting.
GA was fine, crampy when came round but that was it.
Slight bleeding/spotting afterwards with both.

Had one with no sedation or anything. Was fine.

I had one with local anaesthetic and it was fine. The staff were lovely, it was over very quickly. Wishing you all the best

1st one was fine 2nd was a little uncomfortable 3rd one I got a cervical block 4th next week I want more pain relief this time, really don't was a GA I'll take pain killers and gas and air and hope for the best to get it over with.

@dane8

I tried it without general, they couldn’t get far enough up. When I came out I was absolutely doubled in pain I could move I thought I was going to pass out

Take 2 paracetamol 20 mins before, you’ll be grateful you did

I then had it under general

Similar, it was tried without anaesthetic, the hysteroscope was passed, I couldn't tolerate it so asked them to stop. I later had the test under GA as a day case.

People have varying tolerance to pain due to responses as a result of pain receptors, prostogladins & cervical spasming for example. I called an Uber to take me to ED when I dislocated my shoulder a couple of years ago as I couldn't 'justify' calling an ambulance, I was in a lot of pain but it was very different to my gynae pain

I've had both - first time they had a look around and it was intense. they also took some biopsies. The second time I had a general anaesthetic for further tests. The first took less time to do and I was home with a hot water bottle in a couple of hours. The second took all day and the following day I was sick and sleepy because of the GA. On balance though if I had to have it again I would ask for GA.

I had one a couple of weeks ago - forgot to take painkillers before hand so I was a bit worried, they warned me as they were about to start that it might be uncomfortable, and that sometimes the dye can cause the tubes to spasm (which can be painful), but to just let them know if I felt any discomfort…5 mins later they said they were done, and I was just left wondering what all the fuss was, as I barely felt a thing, I’ve had period pains a lot worse, and I don’t tend to get bad period pains. I think the key thing to remember here is everyone’s going to be different with this, so try not to worry, but maybe worth taking the painkillers before hand just in case

TD x

I had one three weeks ago. It was fine. I was so nervous beforehand, the staff were all lovely and the consultant was very reassuring and talked me through everything. The whole thing probably took 15 mins but the procedure was just a few mins. It was like period pain, and she took a biopsy of my womb and that stung a bit for a few seconds but bearable. I took paracetamol at home before I went. I had period type pains for the rest of the day and bled quite a lot afterwards for a week. I was dreading it after reading some horror stories but it was fine for me.

Had one in the Summer. Scared myself to the point of almost cancelling by reading different women’s accounts but went ahead. I need not have worried. The scope is the width of a radio aerial and they don’t use a speculum for a general look around. They pump saline in which feels a little cold and it all drips out-nice🤪. Chatting to the nurses meant it was nearly over before I realised. I had a biopsy too which was the uncomfortable bit, not a fan of a speculum and the ‘scratch’ of the biopsy was just a scratch. Literally over in a flash. Bit of bleeding and cramping afterwards but nothing to worry about. Yes to paracetamol..

Had three now, last just a couple of weeks ago, awaiting results. Took painkillers as suggested beforehand. Uncomfortable for most of the observation part of the procedure (maybe 5 minutes), no more than that. Had uterine biopsy and that was painful but only for a minute or two. Slight bleeding next day (4 years post-menopause) but no discomfort.

It's best to have a local anaesthetic plus Paracetamol only. Otherwise there's an increased risk of the surgeon making a hole, because you won't notice. The surgeon told me this.

I had a spinal anaesthetic for mine and it was fine as I obviously couldn’t feel a thing.

I've had one done for bleeding between periods. It was absolutely fine, same as TigerDaisy. No pain relief and I didn't feel a thing, even when they took the biopsy. I read all the stuff online and was really worried. No-one knows how their body will react pain-wise, so I'd liked that I could try awake, LA if needed or stopping all together and coming back for GA.

Had two in January this year, bloody awful experience. Something sent me into an almighty shiver whilst they were doing the procedure - possibly the lignocaine used? They tried to remove a cervical polyp but couldn't. Rude staff, one of the nurse told me it was "time to go on a diet ". I was already petrified of the procedure and this upset me further. I know I am obese. Because I am obese, I struggled to put the voltarol suppository in for pain relief and it slipped out so that likely made the pain worse.. I was too embarrassed to say anything or ask them to insert it after the weight comments. Horrible experience made worse by rude staff.

I have been refused one under general as the consultant says it's not required. Even though I explained previous trauma leading to anxiety about such examinations. So I am not having it done. Well done consultant.

Make sure you wear a wide skirt or dress because then you can just take your underwear off and have your clothes on as you walk to and from the chair. It's much more dignified than trying to cover yourself with paper towels!
I've had two. No problem at all. The first one they didn't take a big enough sample so I had to go back. Second time they said they were going to release water inside so it would feel like period pains so to take ibuprofen an hour before going. I took 2 ibuprofen and 2 paracetamol. And watched everything on the screen. So interesting. There's hardly an orifice I haven't seen up now! They'll be nurses to chat to you to take your mind off it, if that helps. Personally I found that irritating as she was getting in the way of the screen, although she was very nice.

I would be interested in reports from people who have had both a colposcopy and lletz, and a hysteroscopy and how they compare?

I had one which, like others have said, was uncomfortable but not hideous. I did have some cramping during it and was offered gas and air but they were almost finished so not worth it.