Hysteroscopy. Tell me about them.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Any tips?

What's the local anaesthetic like?

I had one a couple of years ago. No anesthetic. I was very apprehensive but it was fine. Had a lovely consultant do it, talked me through it. I watched it on a screen. I had two polyps burned off.

It was uncomfortable but very doable, even the cauterisation only stung a little. I drove myself home (against advice!)

However I had had children, a colleague who had not found it much more painful.

Good luck with yours

Well I wasn't in pain today when she put a long tube in me, no idea what that was for so maybe it will be ok.

I haven't got children though.

Have it done by a Consultant under GA. Do not let them fob you off with anything less.

I have no kids and need a hysteroscopy every year. I find it unspeakable, hideous agony and when I lived in the UK they were constantly trying to persuade me I didn't need sedation, banging on about GA risks and resources, that they stretched my cervix last time.

Incidentally, where I now live, no gynae is prepared to perform the hysteroscopy without a GA because it is known to be so painful.

Good luck!

I had one without GA. Having another one in a couple of weeks under GA which I am happier about. Blooming uterine polyps!

I had one with no sedation or anaesthetic. It was no worse than a smear test. Must be worse if you've not had children though as the cervix won't be open at all. I know they can't put a coil in easily unless you've had children.

The leaflet says Local Anaesthetic....

They wouldn't try and force an un-used cervix surely?

Had one last year, had polyps removed and coil fitted in a one stop shop! Watched it all on screen! Had no anaesthetic, defo no need for GA, had crampy period like pains for couple of hours afterwards but was bearable, good luck

Fluffy - that means they apply gel stuff which supposedly numbs the area. The difference is that nurses can administer that stuff whereas a Consultant is needed to administer sedation (i.e. it's a cost issue). The local did nothing for me, but hopefully your pain threshold is higher than mine!

Have had 2 under GA since and as Honeybeer says it's just crampy pain afterwards. The issue is stretching an un-stretched cervix iykwim.

My poor cervix. It's going to pop it's stretching cherry on a camera.