Hysteroscopy experience

[Jennifer89]

So for a bit of background I have been ttc for 7 months and ever since coming off pill in 2020 I had issue with very heavy periods for first 1-3 days in particular it has always caused discomfort.

I had an ultrasound scan in 2020 and doctor said found small fibroid but didn't believe this was effect my period or ttc in future. Now fast forward to 2023 and I still felt something was not right with my period and as started ttc September I wanted to check again if the fibroid was a concern. I waited 4 plus months for nhs scan so went private. I was informed I have a submucosal fibroid which although small at 1.5cm it is in an awkward position inside uterine cavity which was most certainly effecting my period and would also cause difficulty conceiving.
I am now going down route of process to pay privately to have fibroid removed so resolved asap. I definitely think if can afford it go private for any 2nd opinion. I am glad I did that and have some answers now.

Have any of you ladies had a hysteroscopy? What was the recovery like? Was there much bleeding/soreness?
I will be going under genereal anaesthetic for the operation.

Thanks, I've called the dedicated number for the clinic 3 times ( once per week) and left a message stating I want a GA and don't want to come on the appointment date to be turned back if I want a GA but no one has returned my call ( "I will return your call shortly"). I think I need to call someone else as it's next week

I'm sorry but saying 'from what I've heard diagnostic hysteroscopies aren't so bad' is exactly the kind of thing that means women have to endure procedures without the appropriate anaesthesia. Who have you heard this from? Patients? Women? Women who've had a hard time? Or was it doctors? The people that weirdly assume that an invasive procedure into a part of the body that typically is tightly closed isn't going to hurt? Was it one of them?

Please don't be one of those people.

Hear me when I say they can be bad. The attempts made on me without GA were horrible and make me feel anxious and sick when I think of them too much. I'd never endure another attempt like that again. Never.

We aren't all identikit and what's fine for one isn't always fine for another.

Apologies @Sooverthemill I reacted badly this morning and I apologise for being snappy.

I see that you've acknowledge that you've had GA for yours and it was painful afterwards.

I had one at private hospital under GA on Monday morning as an investigative measure for breakthrough bleeding on HRT. Felt a bit fragile and wobbly when I got home in the afternoon. Hospital wouldn’t discharge me if I had been intending to make my own way home, which I think is pretty standard for having a GA. I’ve been bleeding a bit since which consultant said is normal. I feel fine as usual. If you can afford it (or are covered by insurance), I would advise you to go privately as will save time and longer time worrying. Hope everything goes well for you.

@TragicMuse that wasn’t me but I completely understand. I called the gynaecology unit and left a message and they called back about 10 minutes later saying they had sent an email to the Seder and the clinic head asking for one of them to call me Monday. Hopefully it will be sorted

im quite stoic but I went into shock during labour and I faint when I have a smear and the last biopsy done left me in severe pain, lots of bleeding and I felt sick faint and dizzy for about 3 hours and very unwell and shaky for a few days. Sex is extremely painful ( always has been) and I don’t relish something being placed inside without some kind of anaesthetic! No idea if that’s ‘normal’ but it’s my normal

I had the hysteroscopy by GA on Friday. They called me with a cancellation. The whole experience once I got to the hospital was very good. Kind and professional staff who treated me with respect. I got in at 11, went to theatre around 1.15 and left the ward at 5.30.

Oh and the female gynaecologist told me she wouldn’t have any gynae investigative procedures done except by GA as they are inevitably painful

That's great news@Sooverthemill I'm so glad for you.

That’s great it all went well - I’m sure you’re glad it’s all over 😊

This was not something a doctor told me but based on my friend and comments online from other ladies who claim their diagnostic hysteroscopies were fine for them but I didn't claim this is the case for all women and after feeling in pain since waking from my recent hysteroscopy a couple of weeks ago I can imagine it must be painful to be awake during the procedure. Apologies if my statement caused offense

It has now been 11 days since my hysteroscopy and I am still experiencing light bleeding which is annoying as hoped to be able to ttc this week but doctor said no sex until bleeding stops. I have asked for advice from doctor as not sure if it is normal to still be bleeding. 🙁

*actually it is 18 days since procedure so nearly 3 weeks and still bleeding..

I am waiting for hysteroscopy at the N&N due to a polyp. I was advised a couple of weeks ago that it's a 70 weeks wait. When I saw the gynae at the hospital she referred me as urgent but apparently a consultant who's never met or examined decided I was not urgent and downgraded me.

I have horrific bleeding, I've ruined 2 mattresses and hundreds of pounds worth of clothes.

I am having the polyp removed with local not even GA.

How long was your wait?

I wouldn't ever have it done again without a GA. It was so painful and I nearly passed out and was shaking uncontrollable. They mentioned something about a Vagus reaction.

Hiya - resurrecting this thread as I’m worried and seeking reassurance. Have had a bit of a turbulent time fertility wise and hoping it’s okay to reach out to you guys esp @Jennifer89 . Background. I’m 39 have had two miscarriages in since March 2024 with my last this year March (the irony). I knew I had fibroids and they weren’t big but their placement I was advised would be good to get them removed. I took two pro strap injections this year April and May to shrink fibroids before the op, then had hysteropic (can never spell medical terms) myomectomy June 9th this year. July had what I think is a very light period or maybe a withdrawal bleed. Now in August have not had a period and now worried as to what’s going on. My body feels like af going to come on any minute now and has been like this since end of July, even thought I may be pregnant, took pregnancy tests which are showing a mix of positive and negative. Now going docs on Monday for bloods and scan at hospital same day to check and possibly rule out pregnancy. I guess for me I would like to know is it normal for af to be irregular like this and also if anyone has gone on to conceive and how long that took. Thankyou in advance xx

Just want to add procedure went really well and healing went super well too, just af or lack thereof which is causing anxiety

Glad to hear procedure went well. I conceived after 18 months ttc. I think the hysteroscopy to remove fibroid and also a hycosy to check tubes both must have helped. I conceived 4 months after the op and same month as the hycosy was done.

I ended up paying private to have it removed under general. It cost around £2500 from what I recall. To be fair in the end nhs wait was not as bad as expected (about a year) but I also wanted general which they weren't offering.