Hysteroscopy, Here's What You Should Know

Hysteroscopy is a procedure inspection condition of the neck and inside of the uterus. This procedure can be used fordiagnosing disease or causes of infertility and help treat abnormalities in the uterus.

Hysteroscopy is performed using a hysteroscope, which is a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end. The device is inserted into the uterus through the vagina, so the doctor can check the condition of the inside of the uterus through a monitor screen.

There are two types of hysteroscopy methods, namely diagnostic hysteroscopy and operative hysteroscopy. Diagnostic hysteroscopy is used to see the condition of the uterus. However, if an abnormality is found on examination that can be corrected immediately, this procedure becomes an operative hysteroscopy.

Hysteroscopy Indications

Doctors may perform a hysteroscopy with the aim of:

Find out the cause of abnormal bleeding from the vagina, such as continuous menstruation or bleeding after menopause
Investigating the causes of repeated miscarriages (at least 2 times in a row) or the causes of women having difficulty conceiving after 1 year of undergoing a pregnancy program
Detect abnormal uterine tissue, such as scar tissue, fibroids, and uterine polyps
Detect uterine or fallopian tube deformities
Take a sample of suspected abnormal tissue (biopsy) for analysis in the laboratory
Removing abnormal tissue in a small uterus
Correcting abnormalities at the end of the fallopian tube
Removing contraceptives intrauterine device (IUD) that is difficult to remove manually
Assist in sterilization procedures, namely permanent contraception in women by closing the fallopian tubes

Hysteroscopy Warning

Patients with the following conditions are not allowed to undergo hysteroscopy:

Are pregnant, because it can trigger a miscarriage
Suffering from cervicitis
Suffering from cervical cancer
Have a wide uterine cavity or the length of the uterus is more than 10 cm
Experiencing very severe bleeding in the uterus
Suffering from pelvic inflammatory

Before Hysteroscopy

Before undergoing a hysteroscopy, there are several things that patients need to pay attention to, namely:

Ask your doctor if you need to fast before the procedure.
Avoid using douche (vaginal cleansing soap), tampons, or medications that are inserted into the vagina.
Inform your doctor if you are menstruating or if the hysteroscopy schedule coincides with your expected period.
Tell your doctor about any medicines, supplements, or herbal products you are currently taking.
Invite relatives or family to drop off, pick up, and accompany you during and after the procedure.
Take a pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, 1 hour before the procedure, if you are concerned that the procedure will cause discomfort. However, consult your doctor first.

Hysteroscopy Procedure

Before the procedure begins, the patient will be asked to remove all lower clothing. Next, the doctor will perform a hysteroscopy with the following steps:

The patient will be asked to lie on his back with his knees bent and wide apart.
The doctor may administer local anesthesia (the patient remains awake) or general anesthesia (the patient is asleep), depending on the patient's condition and how complicated the procedure is.
The doctor will clean the patient's vagina with an antiseptic solution.
The doctor will insert a speculum into the vagina to support the vaginal wall so that it can continue to open.
The doctor will slowly insert the hysteroscope through the vagina, then into the cervix, and finally into the uterine cavity. At this stage, the patient may experience discomfort or cramping as if he was menstruating.
The doctor will insert sterile gas or liquid into the uterus, so that the uterus expands and the image of the uterine cavity captured by the camera can be more clear.
The doctor will see and analyze the condition of the inside of the uterus through a monitor screen that is connected to the camera on the hysteroscope.
If tissue is found that needs to be removed, either for surgery or a biopsy, the doctor will insert a special instrument through the hysteroscope to remove the tissue.

Hysteroscopy can last for 15–60 minutes. The length of this procedure depends on what type of action is being performed.

After Hysteroscopy

After the procedure is complete, the patient can go home immediately. However, the patient is advised to rest first in the treatment room for a few hours, until the effect of the anesthetic wears off.

For a few days after the procedure, the patient may experience mild cramping and bleeding. The doctor will give you painkillers to relieve the cramps you feel.

The results of operative hysteroscopy and some diagnostic hysteroscopy can be communicated to the patient immediately after the procedure is completed. However, for diagnostic hysteroscopy that requires a biopsy, the results are usually not available for 2-3 weeks after the procedure.

The following are some of the abnormalities that can be found on diagnostic hysteroscopy:

Myomas, uterine polyps, or other abnormal growths, including endometrial cancer
Scar tissue in the uterus, as in Asherman's syndrome
Abnormal size or shape of the uterus
Blockage in the fallopian tube

The doctor will discuss the results of the hysteroscopy with the patient, especially if further treatment is needed to overcome the problems found. However, if no abnormalities are found on hysteroscopic examination, further examination may be needed to determine the cause of the patient's complaints.