Hysteroscopy

[Miracle29]

I'm due to have a hysteroscopy in a month's time and wandering if anyone has had one? I spoke to someone a few weeks ago who said it was the worse pain she felt and ended up having a local anesthetic in her cervix and that hurt just as much so now I'm freaking out. I remember years ago when i had ivf, when they did the transfer it was so painful for me that i nearly passed out and this sounds very similar. I've had scan/internal scans ect. How painful is one? What should I expect? Thankyou

Each of mine also involved a biopsy (and one a polyp removal) but otherwise they are just generally seeing the health of your womb. I would suspect they’d take the biopsy at the same time if they thought you needed it. Try not to worry, for an awful lot of women it will just show everything is fine and that will be it. If not the case they’ll decide/explain next steps but I really wouldn’t worry about that at this point in time.

I have had five and just have local
anaesthetic plus ibuprofen.

They check for polyps and a thicker uterine lining.

In many countries they only offer them with GA. I feel that is telling me something!

I didn't have one in the end because the problem resolved but my gynae said she thought I had a polyp and I'd need one. She said what it involved and I asked if I'd be awake. She looked at me in horror and said 'would you want to be?'

I think when I get my letter or phonecall I'll have to ask them about it. My problem is a prolonged period and I was praying it would stop so I didn't need one but at the same time I really need to see what's going on. If I found my embro transfer painful I'm sure as heck going find this painful surley. I don't think id like an injection poked in my cervix though that sounds awful.

They would usually do an vaginal ultrasound first (unless you have had that already?) That will show any abnormalities and if further investigations are needed.

It's a bit over-kill to go straight to a hysteroscopy.

You can ask about all of this- you don't have to just agree to procedures without asking why and what the other options may be.

I think it's more like a numbing gel from memory. I haven't ever really felt it. The only bit of the procedure that is uncomfortable for me is the probe passing through the cervix, and that's not too bad.

I don't want GA unless it's necessary as I prefer to be in and out quickly. I have a retroverted uterus, but this usually isn't a problem. My second baby was quite large, though, so perhaps that has helped.

I am by no means brave but it was ok - I took cocodamol beforehand and it was over very quickly too, but every patient and operator are different.

I've had 4.
Number 1, I had no idea what it was. I'd been bleeding after sex and had peri symptoms. The GP suggested a coil but couldn't fit it (ie couldn't get it in) so referred me to gynae. I was expecting a smear but I was in tears with the pain and the doctor stopped and referred me for another with GA.
Number 2, GA and consultant still couldn't 'get in' (her words) but I was oblivious to the procedure.
Number 3, 1st doctor performed under GA (privately) to confirm I didn't have cervical cancer.
Number 4, about 6 years later, GA, abroad. The gynae was horrified to hear this is performed with no anaesthetic in the UK.
I know some women don't feel much pain and I hope for your sake this is you but if it is unbearable tell them to stop, don't suffer in silence.

There was an MP who started a campaign to ban it without sedation or GA.

@CallMeKaty yes I had an ultrasound a few weeks ago and that seemed to be normal other than a small cyst. They don't know what's causing the bleeding. The doctor just said I'll refer you for the camera and that I need wait to be contacted.

Numbing cream sounds better than an injection. I honestly just thought it was like an ultrasound I didn't actually realise it went through the cervix until I googled 😅 that's when I saw people saying it was painful and freaked out

@Miracle29 same here, unexplained bleeding now since last December
Been on norethisterone since May 😩

I've had 2 hysteroscopies before and both under GA.
My male Gynae is generally of the opinion that women shouldn't suffer painful procedures
I also have my mirena coil in under GA

I'll be having this next one under GA and they'll change my coil too.
I'm done with having pain for anything
Even my hygenist gives me a local now lol

Why do some women get referred for a internal scan and some for a hysteroscopy?

Hysteroscopy shows more, the gynae can see the inside of the womb.

They can turn the screen so you can look! I declined.

I realise that but I know two women who had bleeding who were just refereed for a scan after bleeding. Others straight for a hysteroscopy.

I had one today and it was awful. I started my period yesterday though so was already cramping. The nurses were lovely and holding my hand and I also hadn't taken any painkillers.

You poor thing 💐

Some of the bad experiences may well be down to drs who are either rushed for time, or not that experienced.

My dr spent 30 mins doing mine. He was very gentle, patient and also performs a lot of IVF. This was a private hospital and I had the choice of nothing, local or GA.

I was genuinely surprised that it was painless and the worst part was lying on my back for 30 minutes, legs akimbo.

I'd say to anyone, keep an open mind. I may be wrong, but I think these threads sometimes attract the bad experiences rather than women who found it ok.

I know what you mean but I don't know anyone who's found it less than agony.

@Fluffycloudland77 That is true, but it's an invasive procedure and infections can occur afterwards. Usually, they try scans first and only hysters if they think they need to see more.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor well you can add me to the 'it was fine' list!

I've had 2. They were uncomfortable but not painful. I didn't even know that GA was used in some hospitals.

Each took 30 minutes, no real issues and I was back at my desk within 30 minutes of leaving hospital. There's no way I'd have wanted to have a GA for something so routine. However, I appreciate that everyone is different.

My advice would be to try it without GA but if it's really too unbearable, ask them to stop and rebook for a GA

Thankyou for everyone's experiences it's really helped me. My bleeding has started out of blue and just haven't stopped its been over 3 months now. I've been checked for thyroid aswell which was normal. I am anemic aswell which doesn't help as I'm always so run down with lack of enegery. I was assuming that as everything was OK on my scan that the bleeding was nothing to worry about then stop but it hasn't so now they want me to do the camera. I didn't even realise they did GA for an outpatient job either. Alot for me to think about I think

I had one under GA - it wasn’t even an option to not have a GA

It's so strange that so many hospitals work in different ways regarding giving an option of pain relief or GA vs no option

It's your right to request GA if that's your preference. GA will probably mean waiting an extra couple of weeks to get it done.
NHS standard option is an outpatient appointment and paracetamol as this is a lot cheaper for them and for some patients it's pain free or just uncomfortable.
The problem is that they make no effort to find out whether you are someone who is likely to find the procedure pain free or someone who will find it more painful than childbirth and will pass out from the pain.
I opted for GA and it was the right choice for me. A friend has had two and found them no worse than a smear.
If you do opt for GA they will do anything else that needs doing eg biopsy, removing polyps at the same time and you can also ask them to do a smear at the same time.
It's frustrating that there is no research done into identifying which patients are well suited to outpatient pain relief and which best suited to general anaesthetic but then that's the patriarchy for you.

I had one about a month ago and I have to say it was completely fine. I did ask for local in my cervix as the purpose is to try and find/remove and lost mirena and opening the cervix had bothered me last time, but I didn’t feel that go in and the procedure itself was not painful. It was a little uncomfortable but ultimately fine.