A hysteroscopy is very painful without sedation and can feel like moderate to severe cramping that is similar to intense menstrual cramps.
The hysteroscopy is a minor and often quick 3 to 5 minute outpatient procedure and the pain often goes away pretty quickly.
Although some women who have had a hysteroscopy have reported more significant pain, especially during the cervical dilation, or if a biopsy is taken.
The most painful part of the hysteroscopy is when the camera is passed through your cervix and when your uterus is expanded with saline.
Some women experience minimal discomfort, although some women experience more severe pain.
They do sometimes put you to sleep for a hysteroscopy with general anesthesia, when done in a surgical room setting.
Although most hysteroscopy's are done in an exam room under mild sedation and so you are not usually asleep, but won't feel any pain or discomfort during the hysteroscopy procedure.
If you are put to sleep for a hysteroscopy with anesthesia, a tube may be placed down your throat to help you breathe.
Although most diagnostic hysteroscopy's are done with moderate sedation without a breathing tube in an exam room.
You will spot for 1 to 2 days after a hysteroscopy which is normal, although if tissue was removed during the hysteroscopy you may spot a few more days.
Light bleeding or spotting is normal for a few days after the hysteroscopy, but if you have any heavy bleeding you should seek medical attention.
After a hysteroscopy the uterus undergoes a brief healing process, which often also results in some mild, cramping like discomfort, which is similar to menstrual cramps as well as light vaginal bleeding or even discharge for a couple of days.
Your uterine lining might also be irritated and you may also experience a sensation of fullness in your abdomen if gas was also used during the hysteroscopy procedure.
After a hysteroscopy some light bleeding or spotting is also common and normal for 1 to 2 days, although the light bleeding and spotting can last longer if any tissue was also removed.
If gas also known as carbon dioxide was used during the hysteroscopy to expand your uterus, you might also experience some shoulder pain or even a full sensation in your belly and most people will return to normal activities within 24 hours to 48 hours after the hysteroscopy.
Before a hysteroscopy you should not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the hysteroscopy if you're having anesthesia.
Before the hysteroscopy you should also avoid using douches, lotions, tampons, perfumes, nail polish and deodorant 24 hours prior to the hysteroscopy.
And do not smoke for at least 24 hours before the hysteroscopy and avoid taking blood thinning medications unless your doctor says it's okay.
Follow the fasting instructions which is often 8 hours or more before the hysteroscopy to avoid cancellation of the hysteroscopy procedure, especially if you're having sedation or general anesthesia.
And avoid vaginal medicines for 24 hours before the hysteroscopy.
The best time to do a hysteroscopy is in the first week after your menstrual period ends, which is often between days 5 and 12 of your cycle.
This ensures that your uterine lining is thin and you are not pregnant.
A hysteroscopy should be scheduled shortly after menstruation ends, as it allows for the clearest view of your uterine cavity.
If you're menopausal, the hysteroscopy can be done at any time.
The length of time that you need off work for a hysteroscopy is 1 to 2 days.
Taking 1 to 2 days off work is recommended after a hysteroscopy, even if you feel capable of returning to work the next day.
Recovery is often quick, but you also need some time to recover from the anesthesia as well and should not drive or operate machinery for 2 hours and you may still experience some mild cramping and light bleeding or spotting for a couple of days after the hysteroscopy.
Healing internally after a hysteroscopy takes around 1 to 2 weeks.
During the time you're healing after a hysteroscopy, you should avoid intercourse or sex, heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and even tampons.
Light bleeding and spotting occur for 1 to 2 days and the internal tissue requires more time to fully recover.
Light walking is also encouraged after a hysteroscopy to encourage and promote healing and recovery.
Start with gentle and short walks around the house or outside and if you feel tired or have any increased pain or bleeding you should rest.
Avoid any intense walking or running or strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for at least a week after the hysteroscopy.
Feeling so tired after a hysteroscopy is normal and is due to your body recovering from the anesthesia that is used during hysteroscopy.
The pain medication and stress of the hysteroscopy procedure on your uterine tissues also can factor into the tiredness feeling after a hysteroscopy.
After the hysteroscopy, your energy is diverted to healing, which can cause fatigue for 1 to 2 days.
Even minor blood loss, anxiety and post operative cramping can also factor into the tiredness feeling after a hysteroscopy.
When undergoing a hysteroscopy, you will be under anesthesia for around 30 to 45 minutes for a hysteroscopy.
The actual hysteroscopy surgical time is 10 minutes to 20 minutes, although it can extend to as long as 30 minutes or more if any fibroids or polyps are removed.
Following the hysteroscopy, you will be moved to a recovery room, to allow you to recover for an additional 1 hour to 2 hours before you can go home.
You will need someone to drive you home after the hysteroscopy as you will still often be groggy and drowsy for at least 24 hours.
The reason why general anesthesia is used for hysteroscopy is to ensure that the hysteroscopy is pain free and comfortable and also makes for a still experience for you as the patient, especially during longer or more complex operative hysteroscopy procedures.
General anesthesia is commonly used during a hysteroscopy, especially when removing large fibroids, polyps or managing of severe pain or when multiple procedures are performed.
Complex and longer hysteroscopy procedures like operative hysteroscopy, will necessitate a deeper level of anesthesia to remove large fibroids or polyps.
If you have general anesthesia you will be asleep during the entire hysteroscopy procedure and when you wake up you may feel some mild, abdominal pain or cramps.
At your pre-op appointment for your hysteroscopy, a medical history review as well as a physical and pelvic exam will be done and you may need to sign some finalizing consent forms to ensure that you're healthy enough for the hysteroscopy procedure.
Your doctor will also review any medication changes, especially if you're on blood thinners and discuss anesthesia with you and provide fasting instructions and have you arrange for a driver to drive you home from the hysteroscopy appointment.
At the pre-op appointment for the hysteroscopy, the doctor will review your medical history, including any possible allergies like iodine, latex, medications or bleeding disorders and do a pelvic exam or even a pregnancy test might be performed.
Your doctor may also give you some medicine to take before the hysteroscopy to help open your cervix and the medicine may be placed in your vagina or it might be taken as a pill.
The hysteroscopy process involves the surgeon passing the hysteroscope through your cervix, injecting liquid or gas to expand your uterus for better viewing.
Getting the biopsy results back from a hysteroscopy takes around 1 to 6 weeks.
Many people who have had a hysteroscopy get the biopsy results back from the hysteroscopy within 1 to 2 weeks.
Although it can sometimes take 4 to 6 weeks to get the results back from the laboratory analysis after a hysteroscopy.