Hysteroscopy
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- September 5, 2026
- 4 MINS READ
Patient Procedures
Understanding Hysteroscopy
Unexplained pelvic pain or abnormal bleeding can disrupt your daily life. At St. Stephen’s Hospital, our gynecology experts use hysteroscopy to look directly inside your uterus, allowing us to accurately diagnose and often treat the root cause of your symptoms in a single, minimally invasive visit.
What is a Hysteroscopy?
A hysteroscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to examine the inner lining of your cervix and uterus. The surgeon uses a hysteroscope, which is a thin, lighted tube with a camera at the end. Because the hysteroscope is inserted through the vagina and into the uterus via the cervix, there are no surgical incisions required on the outside of your body.
When and Why is it Needed?
A hysteroscopy can be both diagnostic (to find out what is wrong) and operative (to fix the problem). Your gynecologist may recommend this procedure if you are experiencing:
- Heavy, prolonged, or highly irregular menstrual periods.
- Bleeding between periods or after menopause.
- Repeated miscarriages or difficulty getting pregnant.
- The need to locate and remove a displaced Intrauterine Device (IUD).
- Suspecting any uterine/cervical/vaginal anomalies.
How Does the Procedure Work?
- Preparation: Depending on whether the procedure is diagnostic or operative, you may be given a local anesthetic to numb the cervix, a mild sedative, or spinal anesthesia.
- Dilation and Insertion: The doctor gently dilates (widens) your cervix and inserts the hysteroscope.
- Expansion: A sterile saline liquid or carbon dioxide gas is gently pumped through the scope to expand the uterus. This clears away blood or mucus and allows the camera to capture a clear, unobstructed view of the uterine lining.
- Treatment: If an abnormality like a uterine polyp, fibroid, or scar tissue is found, the doctor can pass tiny surgical instruments through the hysteroscope to remove it immediately.
- Timeframe: A diagnostic hysteroscopy can take as little as 5 to 10 minutes, while an operative procedure may take up to 30 minutes.
Risks and Complications
Hysteroscopy is highly safe. Minor risks include slight bleeding, mild pelvic cramping, or a rare uterine infection. In extremely rare cases, the hysteroscope could accidentally puncture the wall of the uterus (uterine perforation), which typically heals on its own but requires close observation.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
- Going Home: If you receive a local anesthetic, you can go home almost immediately. If you have sedation, you will rest in the recovery area for an hour or two.
- The First Few Days: It is completely normal to experience mild cramping (similar to menstrual cramps) and light spotting or bleeding for a few days following the procedure.
- Activity Restrictions: You can usually return to work and normal activities the very next day. However, you should avoid sexual intercourse, tampons, and swimming for at least one to two weeks to prevent infection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A hysteroscopy is performed to diagnose or treat issues inside the uterus. It is commonly used to investigate abnormal, heavy, or irregular bleeding, look into causes of repeated miscarriages or infertility, and locate and remove uterine polyps, fibroids, or a displaced IUD, or if you are suspecting any uterine anomaly.
Recovery is very quick. Most women return to work and light daily activities the day after the procedure. However, to prevent infection, avoid swimming, using tampons, taking baths, and engaging in sexual intercourse for one to two weeks, or as advised by your gynecologist.
Yes, a hysteroscopy is an excellent tool for detecting cancer. It allows the doctor to directly visualize the uterine lining for any suspicious growths or lesions. If abnormalities are seen, the doctor can immediately take a targeted tissue biopsy to test for endometrial cancer.
In many cases, fertility specialists recommend proceeding with an IVF cycle the month immediately following a hysteroscopy. If the procedure was used to remove polyps or scar tissue, your uterus will be in optimal condition for an embryo transfer once the initial healing is complete.
While not always mandatory for every patient, many fertility specialists highly recommend a diagnostic hysteroscopy before starting IVF to ensure there are no hidden physical barriers (like polyps or scar tissue) that could prevent an embryo from successfully implanting.
Your doctor will likely schedule the procedure for the week after your menstrual period to get the clearest view of the uterus. You may be asked to avoid eating or drinking for several hours beforehand if you will be under general anesthesia, and you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home.