Advice on Hysteroscopy

[Kellyw10]

Hello, just wondering if anyone on here has had a Operative Hysteroscopy?
I’ve now been advised this is a must have procedure for me and I would like advice if anyone has been through the same thing. What questions would I need to ask? My mind keeps going blank.
Thank you

Hi, I have just had my tubes clamped. What are you actually having done?
I had blocked tubes and before we can start ivf the doctors advised I had my tubes done before we get pregnant.
The operation only took about half hour and I was home by the evening.
What do you want to know? X

I’ve had a couple, done under local and general. After the local, I felt shakey afterwards, and it obviously takes time to recover after a general. Therefore, get someone to drive you home afterwards.

Can’r Really think of any questions apart from things such as, can you eat before, how long will you be in, recovery time etc.

I’ve had one without any sort of pain relief. It depends what you’re having done and what they’re doing. For me, it was to see what was in the uterus and then remove “leftovers” of a miscarriage. Hurt like hell and I was shaky and a wreck for a few days.

If you’re going under general: ask for what to do the day: night before.

Then maybe stuff like: what to expect afterwards, how much bleeding is acceptable? Follow up appointments (timing), when will you be told what they find (if they’re looking for something), pain relief for the day(S) after, how soon can you drive/be back to work etc. How long do you need to refrain from sex for? Any precautions to take? (E.g. no bathing, swimming etc.)

Also, make sure that you get some decent pain relief if you’re only have a local.

I'm having mine done tomorrow. I'm also having other things done tho too and I'll be under General so I imagine that it will be a lot different

My advice would be to just wait until they've booked you in and they'll tell you exactly what it is you need to do before and after and what your surgery will entail 😊

Thank you all so much. I don’t know what going to happen. I’ve to wait for my appointment coming though as we have been TTC for 3 1/2 years now. I had my HSG test and it shown 1. Locked tube and some sort of scarring on my uterus and they don’t know if it’s scarring or fibriods. I’m just so nervous. And would like to know other people’s experiences if they have the same as me.
Thank you for your comments x

If they’re just looking in the uterus and not removing anything then you are likely to have minimal discomfort or pain afterwards. It’s only if they remove /dislodge stuff that you have discomfort.

As you’ll be under anaesthetic you won’t notice what they do during it. You’ll just go to sleep in the room, then wake up in recovery.

I’ve had “camera looks” without any sort of pain relief and it was alright.

I had a hysteroscopy with dilatation and curettage (scraping out the lining, which was too thickened) under general, I had a bit of cramping the first hour when I woke up from the anaesthetic but none after, felt a bit wiped out that evening and the next day. YMMV obviously, since every body’s different.

Thank you very much. Got my op date, it’s next Wednesday. They are going to do both, have a look and remove Aswell. Very nervous.

@kelly: what helped me post was having a hot water available so that I could put it on my tummy, plenty of rest and lots of painkillers ;)

I’m guessing you’re having it under general anaesthetic? If that’s the case you’ll have the normal post operation things to deal with (tiredness, fatigue etc).

Thanks for posting this. I’ve had 1 failed cycle of DE IVF and, following a HyCoSy last month, my ivf clinic have reviewed the scans and, because of 2 fibroids, have asked for me to have a hysteroscopy done prior to our next cycle.

My gynae appointment following the HyCoSy was yesterday and the gynae consultant seemed quite surprised I’ve not had one before as it’s generally viewed as part of the investigations advised before treatment pretty much Europe wide; and is referring me for one.

In my area the wait for a hysteroscopy is only 3-4 weeks and our plan is to go for our next cycle in July. Is this a realistic prospect?

@rememberallball: in my little experience: yes that’s realistic with a big dose of BUT. It depends what they find and if they remove stuff or if it’s just a look around. They tend to not remove fibroids unless they’ll impact a pregnancy or are in the way.

When I had mine for removal it was a 3 week wait for the procedure, procedure done and then a follow up scan 3 weeks later to see what was going on. They told me they need to give it that 3 week period because our body needs to recover and heal.

So, your timeline is possible. Maybe you could do what I did and put yourself on a list for last minute cancellations in case they could fit you in last minute?

Thank you, @Horton; I really appreciate your reply. I will wait for the appointment letter to arrive and tell them I’m happy to take a cancellation appointment (though that can be a bit troublesome in my company as I’m a carer and would need to find cover if it came at very short notice!!)

@Remeberallball - i really hope that it's just a check and they find nothing serious that'll take time to heal or recover.

Thanks again @Horton; I am hoping they find nothing with the 2 fibroids and that the consultant who does the hysteroscopy agrees with my gynae consultant and does the ‘scratch’ that she is recommending!! And that we get out there Cyprus for our treatment as planned in July

good luck!

PLEASE use people's full usernames when using @. Otherwise some completely random person gets told they've been mentioned on a thread. It's extremely irritating.

Apologies, Horton. Was not aware of this.

No worries. But I have had some infertility and gynaecological problems myself and although I have moved on I do find the mentions on these threads a little upsetting.

Just to update on the second hysteroscopy I had today. Our hospital now has a different tool that can use. It’s vibrates and rotated round so that it’s not such a painful procedure. I had no sort of pain relief and the most painful part was them finding the cervix entry.

So, it could depending on what you need done, that it might be nearly painless!

Thank you for the update @hortonlovesahoo. Still waiting for a date for my hysteroscopy but, in the meantime, DH has booked us a weeks holiday to Malta in 3 weeks time and our intention is to have a week of total relaxation.

Also found out one friend who was having their 10th (and last) cycle is pregnant but being cautious as she had a positive pregnancy test last cycle but no heartbeat at 6 and 8 weeks. And another friend’s daughter was due to start a cycle in July and has found out recently that they too are pregnant this time naturally after many years of trying and unsuccessful cycles.

@rememberallball: that sounds wonderful! I hope you have a great time! I love Malta. If you can, try to get over to Gozo too, it’s a really lovely island.

Let’s hope that you’re the 3rd time lucky with all of those people you know :-)