Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Women's health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Hysteroscopy...does anyone have any good experiences?!

71 replies

TheGreenGoddess · 12/03/2022 19:00

I have been urgently referred on the two-week pathway by my GP after she became concerned about my symptoms, and I have to go for a hysteroscopy next week.
Does anyone have a good experience of this procedure? Everyone I've spoken to says it's awful and everything you read online says much the same. So now I'm bricking it...I had a really bad painful experience with a coil insertion some years ago, so am worried this could be the same (or worse!)
Any hints or positive experiences welcome....not sure I want to hear any more bad experiences thanks!

OP posts:

Artus · 12/03/2022 19:05

Yes, I do.

Had one a few years ago. No anaesthesia at all. It was no more uncomfortable than a smear test, apart from the biopsy which stung for a couple of seconds.

I had two polyps removed and my continual bleeding stopped after a few days and never returned.

I have had children though, an acquaintance who had not found it too uncomfortable.

findingsomeone · 12/03/2022 19:19

I had one in October, and it was fine. I had swabs taken a while before and my goodness that was so painful. I was worried since having DD that my pain threshold was different, but thankfully the hysteroscopy was fine. I had very mild cramping but it wasn't even like standard period pain.

I went back in the waiting room on my way out and told the lady waiting who was next that it was OK, because she looked all nervous and on edge like I did when she had come in. She said 'oh thank goodness! Thank you so much for coming to say that'. There are lots of awful stories out there but genuinely it was fine, I wouldn't be worried if needed another one.

Apandemicyousay · 12/03/2022 19:44

I had one too, to remove some polyps. Was absolutely fine. They let me watch the screen which was distracting/interesting in a good way. Don’t recall any after effects.

Watto1 · 12/03/2022 19:52

Mine was fine too. Bit ouchy when they injected the local anaesthetic into my cervix but that bit took seconds. The local will also make your heart race for a bit which was a bit scary until I was assured that it was normal. Like a pp said, it’s no worse than a smear.

I did however, have the slightly unusual experience of having previously worked with one of the (male!) operating theatre staff about 15 years previously! When he recognised me as I walked in he immediately offered to leave the room or stay at my head end. I asked him to stay at my head end - it was nice to chat about old times as it took my mind off his colleagues rummaging around at the business end!

ohthejoysoftoddler · 12/03/2022 20:00

I've had two, without any anaesthetic. Take some painkillers first. It's not comfortable, but it's like a longer smear test (had one yesterday ) and it is usually over quite quickly.

SukiPook · 12/03/2022 20:08

Mine was awful, but I share it to give some tips! I asked in advance for some sedation or something. When I got there that had been ignored. When I asked, they told me "oh this is a really gentle procedure don't worry, you shouldn't need anything".
They started and it was horrendous (but for me, anything involving poking things up my cervix is always sore... some people do find it ok!). The nurse was up at my head trying to distract me making small talk but I just had my teeth gritted. After 10 or so agonising minutes- they could see the whole time that I was in a lot of pain- they started whispering to one another, then someone asked me did I want gas and air. I said "Yes" but inwardly I was thinking "You mean this was available the whole time? Why the fuck didn't you offer it to me at the start when I ASKED for something?"
The gas and air actually really helped me (they removed some small polyps while I was on it) but the dr called it off a few mins later as she was having trouble getting anywhere with it and didn't think I could tolerate more. Booked me back in for it under G.A.... which was absolutely fine, removed one larger polyp from womb. No bad pain afterwards at all.
So my tip is either insist on G.A. before u even have the procedure... OR if smears etc usually easy just try it with gas and air, insist of having it BEFORE they start poking and you'll be fine (I then used gas and air all the way though 4 sessions of IUI and it was absolutely fine. Couldn't have tolerated it without it)

Original poster

TheGreenGoddess · 12/03/2022 20:15

Thanks for the replies ladies. I feel slightly better to know that there are some people out there who didn't have a horrific experience!
Given that I have to be seen within the two week period, I don't think I would be able to ask for a GA as it would involve a longer wait. I think I'd also feel guilty about using up an operating theatre and associated staff!
I am trying to be chilled about the whole thing but it's tricky!

OP posts:

littlesnowdropfairy · 12/03/2022 20:29

I had one last year, it was done under general anaesthesia, I had a cyst removed at the same time. My experience was all good. No discomfort at all really.

littlesnowdropfairy · 12/03/2022 20:35

Just to add, I had a tubal patency test done last year too. No anaesthetic at all, I was told to expect to be uncomfortable and it can take 45 minutes to complete. It was done in 15 and It was absolutely fine. I could obviously feel it but it really wasn't painful, or even particularly uncomfortable. Hopefully you'll be the same with the hysteroscopy.

FurryBandito · 12/03/2022 20:40

I’ve had two. No anaesthetic offered. Second one was to remove two polyps. I have a very low pain threshold indeed (literally have to put a plaster over a paper cut) so I was absolutely dreading it. There were some times when I experienced the type of cramps you get with period pain but it was bearable. The nurses were so lovely and chatted to me and made me feel as relaxed as possible. The doctor kept asking if I was ok and that she would stop at any time if I needed a break. She did say before she started that if I found it too much they could make another appointment to have it with some sort of anaesthetic. Just knowing that was helpful. I was really amazed that I found it entirely do-able. I find smears intensely painful as my cervix is tilted and at a weird angle and I found the hysteroscopy much less unpleasant.

QueenOfHiraeth · 12/03/2022 20:41

I had one a couple of years ago and, other than a minute or so of quite strong period-like cramps, it was fine.

While the internet is a great thing and knowledge is power, it does concern me at times that posts about women's procedures, menopause, etc are so relentlessly negative as to be terrifying

ThePoetsWife · 12/03/2022 20:45

I've had one done - no GA either and that was because I didn't want to have to take time off work etc. it was fine if a bit uncomfortable - the nurses there were great and reassuring. I watched the screen which was a good distraction.

Dobbysgotthesocks · 12/03/2022 20:49

I'm due to have one soon - also on two week pathway but will be longer than that. I have refused to have it done without a GA. I have had. One done before also under GA and was quite uncomfortable afterwards. I cannot tolerate even a smear test or tampon though so no way would I cope without a GA

megletthesecond · 12/03/2022 20:52

I insisted on a GA for mine. I never liked smears and didn't want to be awake for a more in depth gynea procedure.

Okbutnotgreat · 12/03/2022 20:52

Had one last year, also on 2 week pathway, and it was absolutely fine. Nurses were really good and just kept me chatting the whole time. At no time did I think I needed any pain relief, it was like a smear, uncomfortable and took a little while but definitely not unbearable.

JaffavsCookie · 12/03/2022 20:58

Had one last year, again also on 2 week wait pathway.
The staff were beyond lovely, took the polyps out there and then, kept reassuring me and telling me how well i was doing. It was uncomfortable but not super painful.

Thewindwhispers · 12/03/2022 20:59

I was given a GA for mine, I had no idea they could be done without that.

My main advice is no unprotected sex after for a while because the sperm stings like hell.

V glad it was done though, sorted some stuff out.

albertsquirrelnuts · 12/03/2022 21:03

I had a failed one where they couldn't see what they needed and it was getting painful so they stopped and booked me in for one with a GA the following week. That one was absolutely fine. If it does get too painful, you don't have to carry on.

millytint44 · 12/03/2022 21:08

I had one, it diagnosed calcified fibroids and i had a hysterectomy a few minths later. Can't really remember it so that suggests it wasn't painful!

shiningstar2 · 12/03/2022 21:16

I had one last year under the 2 week pathway. It was a one stop clinic so first had a vaginal scan which was fine. I told them before the scan that I wasn't prepared to have the hysteroscopy without a GA. I had done my research and was able to quote R.C.O.G. [Royal College of Obsteretricians and Gynaecologists} information for patients which says that any patient who wants the procedure done under GA should have one. They said after the vaginal scan that I would need a polp removed so probably best to go for GA. There was a small attempt to persuade me to have it done without on the day by a very good Senior Staff Nurse who stayed with me for the scan but they were perfectly fine about my decision. Didn't have to wait long to come back and have it done under GA as a day patient.
Don't have any experience of having it done without. Just posting to say that choices are available if you have second thoughts about having it done without GA.

BestIsWest · 12/03/2022 21:21

I’ve had two, both without anaesthetic. Mine was done by the same female nurse practitioner both times and an all female team, one of whom held my hand. They really did their best to put me at my ease, they were so lovely.
It was uncomfortable but not really painful. I took paracetamol beforehand.

MrsMigginsCat · 12/03/2022 21:22

I had one on the two week pathway in 2020 to investigate a thickened endometrium and remove a load of polyps. They warned me beforehand that some women find it painful but although I can't say it was the most pleasant experience, it was completely tolerable, for me anyway. The worst bit was the local into my cervix. Even the biopsy wasn't that bad and was over in seconds.

DramaAlpaca · 12/03/2022 21:31

I had one under GA. I had polyps removed and a Mirena coil put in at the same time. It was fine, no issues. I wouldn't have wanted to have it done without a GA though.

hairypaws · 12/03/2022 21:33

I had one. Take 2 paracetamol and an ibuprofen an hour before appointment. It was fine. The worst bit is the water expanding the womb, that was very uncomfortable. I didn't feel the actual biopsy at all and was surprised when it was over.

AlisonDonut · 12/03/2022 21:37

Sorry no, mine was horrendous. Please demand pain relief before. I was in a bed in the hospital for 3-4 hours after in agony [and they gave me gas and air] and having spasms and then once the pain medication kicked in, took the opportunity to drive home as fast as i could and went straight to bed. Was in pain for days.

Flip

1 2 3