Experience of hysteroscopy?

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I saw a consultant yesterday following a scan that showed excessive thickening of the womb lining and ongoing bleeding. I'm now booked in for a hysteroscopy next week which will involve taking samples of the lining for tests. Hopefully it will be something that can be treated with hormones, but obviously there's a risk it's something worse, which is slightly terrifying. I've opted for a local anaesthetic, so just hoping it's not too painful.
I just wondered if anyone else has been through this?

Yes, all was fine. I have one every year because I have an increased risk of endometrial cancer. Personally I cannot tolerate the procedure with only local anaesthetic and have to have it done under GA. However, most women who have DC tolerate it just fine - because the cervix has stretched already.

There are plenty of innocent explanations for your symptoms so please try not to worry. It's better to know so you can get the treatment you need. Wishing you all the best

Hi, I had one about 18 months ago under local. I was also given cocodamal to take before. It wasn't painful although i came over hot and a bit woozy, and felt faint when they sat me upright at the end. I hope all goes well for you.

I've had this and can only tell you my experience.
It's a bit long...bear with me.

I had a biopsy with no hysteroscopy after some spotting- was done in dr's surgery and was fine- took 5 minutes- just a tiny probe inserted and twiddled. No pain and went home etc fine afterwards.
After the next lot of spotting dr wanted to do hysteroscopy. He's an eminent gynae and I'd been under his care for some years so was reasonably relaxed about him doing it. (This was private, so that helped re. timing and knowing him etc.)

I opted for nothing (GA or local) with the proviso that if it was painful he'd stop, give local and if still no good then he'd do it another day with a GA.
I can honestly say it was painless. It took 30 minutes as my cervix was tightly closed and had to be dilated slowly. There was no pain and I was pleased I'd not had a local as other people have said the injection is worse than the procedure. I did have some after effects of the dilating - felt faint once it was all over- and had to stay in the hospital for an hour or so until I felt ok. But I did not feel any pain at all .

So I'd like to reassure you that you may well be fine and if you can relax it will help.

I had a HSG aged 28 as we had been ttc for 15m by that point without success.

It was uncomfortable and I felt very nervous. However, the staff were wonderful (one held my hand throughout). They were respectful and caring throughout and my dignity was 100% in place.

I needed paracetamol afterwards, and I bled so I needed to wear a sanitary towel for about 24h. I was told to look out for signs of infection for up to 7 days afterwards, but I was fine.

I hope all goes well for you, OP.

I can't remember having an anaesthetic (4y ago now). Maybe I had a local - I guess I must have?

I had one under local anaesthetic in April - after nearly 2 years of ttc unsuccessfully. It was painless although I was a bit cramps afterwards. Hope it all goes ok for you

Thanks so much all, that's ally reassuring. Apparently there is an anaethetist on site so if it's really bad she'll stop and I can have a GA. I'm reasonably confident as had minimal pain relief with both children. Just really anxious now about results. I know I'm in really good hands but it doesn't help the middle of the night panics. Good thing is it is all moving quickly (have private cover through DH work) so at least not long to wait.

I had one about this time last year. I wasn't offered any pain relief but it wasn't dreadful, not the most pleasant experience of my life but certainly not the worst. Because I had my ds by emergency caesarean when I was only 4 cms dilated, I was told that this made the procedure more painful as my cervix had never stretched. I got through it with some deep breathing and swearing and the nurses were lovely.

I have done one done
I've had a DC

My experience was as follows
No GA, as they said I'd be fine with local

I was one having it done, but uncomfortable but cope able
No rush to get dressed, told me to do so when I was ready.
Lay there for about 5 mins.

They give you a pad to put on, just in case of bleeding(very slight)

It wasn't I til I was walking down the corridor back to the car I got
The most horrible pains I've never had since I first started my periods
I was in agony, I thought I was going to faint! It took about 10 mins before we could drive off.

At home I took 2 paracetamol, hot water bottle and went to bed, pain eased.

I had to have it under GA as they could get up far enough!!! Thank god

GA brilliant, no pain great.

My advice!!
Take 2 paracetamol 15 mins before procedure, wish I had done😀😀

I have a thickened lining of the womb, was booked in for Hysteroscopy, biopsy and d&c last week with specialist. Have been absolutely dreading the procedure as I am a total wuss and hate smears, find them very painful.

Anyways we discussed the procedure and I signed a consent form, he said I could have gas and air for pain relief which I told him made me sick when I had dd. He said if at any stage I was uncomfortable to let him.know.
Got on the bed and nurses were chatting to me, he inserted some water then the pain of the speculum was unbearable, was in agony so said to stop. He was fine, didn't mind. The nurses were so nice as felt so daft but they said it would've got ^a lot^ worse. Don't know whether they were just being nice but they said it was barbaric and they wouldn't have it done with anaesthesia.
Now booked in for GA next Monday

Sorry you found this so painful.

Do you actually mean the pain of the speculum? A spec is used for smears and for anything when they 'need access'!!!
I don't understand why he used water first? The water only goes in once the scope is in the uterus, so they can see what's what.

If you cannot bear a speculum has your dr discussed this with you now?you may have vaginal atrophy which means you probably ought to be using a weak hormone cream- in the vagina- to make the tissues healthy again.

I think it's important to ignore comments like those from the nurses. It frightens other women who may be reading! As I posted above, I had this done with no pain relief at all. I did feel slightly odd afterwards and had to stay in the hospital for a while but the actual procedure was painless.

I appreciate that everyone is different but many women get so scared by this so just emphasising the other side of things!

I had one done around 6 months ago, I was offered gas and air which for me wasn't enough pain relief and just made me feel really sick.

The consultant actually stopped in the end and explained without a GA I would be in too much pain as she was struggling to get the scope in.

The nurses were amazing and let me sit for a while and made me a sweet cup of tea. I was sore and it hurt to sit for the rest of the day. I had to wear a pad for a couple of days due to the bleeding but it was pretty light.

I honestly think a lot depends on the skill of the consultant. Mine is one of the best in the UK and took 30 minutes of very gentle probing. I suspect if this was NHS the drs would may given up. Having said that, the nurse said in her NHS area they don't offer a GA at all.

I had two done by different consultants, with biopsies taken each time. They were both fine. Slightly uncomfortable but not painful. I didn't have any anaesthetic, and didn't take anyone with me. Was back at my desk at work within an hour of each one.

Good luck.

Thanks perkypolly for your comments. I put off going to my GP due to horror stories I'd heard about hysteroscopy and when I finally went I spent the 10 days until my appointment at the gynae clinic in tears as I was so scared after reading about other people's experiences. I just kept re-reading your reassuring comments and telling myself that it would be ok. I had my hysteroscopy this morning, no anaethetic of any sort and I couldn't believe how quick and painless it was after the state I'd got myself into (not to mention my poor partner who had to try and keep me sane). The biopsies were a little bit painful but only took seconds and certainly not unbearable. Any women waiting to go for this procedure please don't worry and don't put it off.

That's good to hear Caroline and hope you results were fine too?

Hi Polly, yes the consultant said everything was fine, just my change of HRT. Incidentally, she also used water first, she said that introducing water into the vagina will cause the cervix to dilate painlessly instead of using the metal dilators that are sometimes used, and she was right it was painless. Also, having re-read my last comment, I don't mean to imply that it's painless for everyone, everyone's experience is different and based on a lot of factors, I don't believe pain threshold is one of them, it's probably more likely to be down to the skill of the doctor. However I do believe that we are more likely to talk about a bad experience that one that wasn't too bad so I think that it gives the impression that a hysteroscopy is inevitably going to be traumatic and this isn't the case. Thanks again for writing about your experience and settling my nerves a bit :-)