Do hysteroscopys hurt?

[charmers2501]

I'm due to have a hysteroscopy in a few weeks and I'm working myself up to the point I'm going to cancel. I had a coil fitted a few years ago and the pain was absolutely excruciating.
I'm reading so many different things and I want to know what it's actually like. I dont have a very high pain threshold and taking a couple of paracetamol beforehand which seems to be standard advice for everything just isn't going to cut it.
I'm really nervous and scared it will be just as painful as the coil.

Mine was done under general anaesthetic

I had one a few years ago. I don't remember it hurting. I remember bleeding a bit afterwards, so make sure you have a sanitary pad with you. My main memory of it is of feeling very much more 'exposed' than say for a smear test, as they have to do all the internal stuff and then leave you in position as they go out and do the xrays. Id have remembered if it was more than mild discomfort as I am a wuss! All the best.

That's what I want but they seem to be pushing me for just having it done without anything.

I had a biopsy of my uterus lining and it hurt worse than the worst period pain, I think the nurse holding my hand was as relieved as me when it was over. I wouldn't willingly do it again. Insist on sedation or a GA!

I also had a general anaesthetic for mine. I assume it's bloody painful and that's why they knocked me out for it

I had hysteroscopy polyp removed and endometrial biopsy under general anaesthetic. It was done privately I think the NHS would have made me try without anaesthetic.

The nhs website says they’d give you a local at the site or you can get a general anaesthetic. If it’s too sore tell them and they can stop and presumably book a general anaesthetic another day.

I got a local for a biopsy. Not exactly the same place though mine was more vulval. Jag stung but totally bearable. One stitch I didn’t experience any pain with.

Mine were both fine. Paracetamol beforehand and a couple of twinges during procedures. It wasn’t exactly pleasant but was completely bearable.
I didn’t feel unduly exposed. A gown because there’s lots of water. A chair that means your semi upright but it was quite relaxed with a gynaecologist, a nurse assisting and an HCA to support/ chat at the top end. Cup of tea and piece of cake afterwards, then drove home.

Yes I'm afraid it does hurt a lot...but it is very quick. It's not a great idea to have a general anaesthetic if you can manage not to. My suggestion would be to give it a go and see how you get on.

I've had two without GA, or local anaesthetic offered. Extremely painful & unnecessarily brutal (given your cervix is not a body part that opens on demand), to the point that I felt pretty traumatised. I am convinced that both procedures damaged or caused scarring on my cervix. There have actually been some awareness raising campaigns and surveys launched on the issue of performing this procedure without anaesthetic. Some women manage fine, many dont! I would at least ask for local anaesthetic. If you're at all concerned, have it done under GA, it's definitely an invasive procedure that warrants it.

I just had local anaesthetic and the whole thing was just a bit uncomfortable. I remember feeling rather exposed but the nurses were very good at helping me to relax. It wasn't painful and they also took biopsies. I did bleed a bit afterwards and they had san towels in the side room where I got dressed afterwards.
I had slight period like cramping pains the next day and very light bleeding. I did regret going back to work the next day though as I felt a bit fragile.

I’ve had two both with just pain relief in my cervix and had no pain at all just a weird sensation when all the water sloshes out of you. I’ve also had two uterine biopsies with no pain relief and they were fine.

I had one recently with a polypectomy and it really wasn't that bad. Uncomfortable more than painful and I chatted throughout, just took paracetamol and ibuprofen before I went.

I think I'm going to cancel and ask that they rebook for a ga. It will just be a waste of their time if I get there and cant have it done or they start and leave me in agony after. It's not worth it for them or me. Hats off to all you women who have had it done with no problem. Unfortunately I think I'm one that will probably end up rolling round in agony. Thanks for telling me your experiences, good and not so good. The joys of being a woman eh. 😂

For me they are,yes.I've had 3 now and they've all been under general anaesthetic.
They tend to start with the consultant planning to do it in clinic,having a go,realising they are not going to get anywhere and booking me in as a day case...
I do try,I really do,but for me it's just too painful.
I'm not a fan of colposcopies either but can grit my teeth and carry on through them.I find smear tests genuinely painful too but at least they are quickly over!
Sorry,OP - but you did ask.But if it is too bad for you there is the alternative of GA.

If you can, make sure you take ibuprofen about an hour beforehand. As with any procedure it can vary from person to person. Mine hurt like a bad period pain when they filled my uterus with water, but like pp said it is quick. Going through my cervix was a funny sensation but totally painless. Good luck

There’s always a risk of death with a general. However small the risk, it’s still present. That’s why they tend not to offer that if they don’t have to.

Sure you don’t fancy trying without one first? Ask for local and refuse to do without local. Then see how it goes?

Sorry to say I had one and found it very painful. I also didn't get a great deal of sympathy from the dr who carried out the procedure either. I was shaking and in tears afterwards - and I gave birth with just gas and air so I'm no wimp. Getting the camera through the cervix was really painful but after that it was uncomfortable rather than painful.

If I have to have another I am going to insist on GA. I just couldn't go through that again.

I’ve got one in a couple of weeks to include a biopsy and he just said it would be under general, didn’t even mention the option of it not being! I’m going private though. Definitely have no intention of doing it with a couple of paracetamol!

Just out of interest, how much is private? I know cost varies but just to get some idea.

Haven't got the invoices to hand but think it was about 3.5k I paid 200 excess. I get private health care through work paying the policy

I think everyone experience is different. I had a coil fitted via hysteroscopy last year after a horrendous experience with a Dr trying, and failing, to insert a coil.

I was given some diazepam to take beforehand which didn't really help with my anxiety but possibly with relaxing things down there!

It hurt for all of one second as it passed through but other than that it was ok. It was nothing compared to the agony of the original coil removal/insertion. I didn't have any biopsies or anything though.

I took paracetamol and ibruprofen an hour previously.

Had a cup of tea afterwards then went shopping afterwards.

I had mine done in a private clinic through the NHS as it was the first available via the choose and book scheme.

I had previously had a coil fitted under sedation (tilted cervix, ouch) and it was a palava but not unpleasant.

I'd choose the non sedated route if i had to do it again.which I wont

I didn't have any anaesthetic when having a hysteroscopy and biopsy. I hardly felt anything though, just slightly uncomfortable.

They had to stop mine because I was in so much pain and was about to faint, and I'm usually good with pain and medical stuff! I've since found out 2 years later while going through IVF that I have cervical stenosis so it's no wonder! Turns out my Mum found hers awful too - vomited on nurse... Totally fine for some women, horrendous and traumatic for others, so I guess it must be difficult for NHS to manage xx

I was given gas and air when I had mine. It did hurt a lot - full on labour pains type of hurt, except that it's relatively quick and the biopsies are very speedy. I wish I'd read this thread first though - I had no warning (I was given a leaflet which said to take some ibuprofen beforehand, and that's not really going to touch the sides with this level of pain), and in my head was thinking it would be a bit like a smear test, so when I rocked up and they showed me the gas and air I was absolutely panicked.