You hear a word like hysteroscopy and figure it must be something serious and complicated. We’d like you to know that this procedure is not only fairly quick and simple, but it’s also one of the best diagnostic tools in the women’s health field.
At Beyond Women’s Care, the skilled and all-female team of women’s health care providers helps women in every stage of life — from puberty on through menopause, and beyond. During each of these reproductive stages, issues can develop that require a higher standard of diagnostic and treatment care, which is where a hysteroscopy plays an invaluable role. Let’s take a look.
Let’s first briefly explain what a hysteroscopy is in more detail. We use this diagnostic tool when we need to have better visualization of your reproductive organs.
To do this, we use a specialized scope (camera) that we insert into your vagina to provide us with high-definition, real-time images of your vagina, cervix, Fallopian tubes, and uterus. The system we use at our practice is called Endosee®, a next-generation hysteroscopy system that allows for a better patient experience.
For example, from your standpoint, we can access the endometrial lining of your uterus in about three minutes with Endosee. And the wand that we use moves easily through your vaginal canal so that you should remain comfortable throughout your hysteroscopy.
Making a hysteroscopy even more valuable, the Endosee system comes with specialized tools that allow us to remove tissues, such as tissues for biopsy or scar tissues that are causing problems with fertility or leading to pain.
There are many reasons why we perform a hysteroscopy, and some good examples of conditions or symptoms that we investigate with a hysteroscopy include:
Now that we’ve covered a hysteroscopy in general terms, let’s take a look at what you can expect.
When you come in for a hysteroscopy, we first get you into a gown and then make you comfortable in our treatment room.
Pain management is an important part of your experience, and we offer several options to help keep you comfortable. These may include oral medications taken before and after the procedure, as well as the use of local anesthesia during the hysteroscopy itself. Through shared decision-making, you and your provider will discuss these options and decide together which approach best meets your needs and comfort level.
Once you’re ready, we gently dilate your cervix for easier access and insert a very small hysteroscope into your uterus. A small amount of liquid is then used to clean and expand the uterus, allowing for clear visualization.
Once we have a visual, we inspect your reproductive organs closely to determine the origin of your issues. If we find something that we can tackle on the spot, such as an adhesion, we thread a specialized tool through the scope to remove these tissues.
If we aren’t removing anything, once we’re done with our inspection, we remove the hysteroscope, and you're free to go home.
If we do remove tissues, you might experience some cramping and spotting, and we recommend avoiding penetrative things like tampons and intercourse for a week or two. If we don’t remove tissues, there shouldn't be any lingering effects after your hysteroscopy.
Rest assured, we provide you with complete instructions, and we’re available to answer any questions you might have. The bottom line is that a hysteroscopy is nothing to fear, as it can advance your health.
If you have more questions about your upcoming hysteroscopy, please don’t hesitate to call our Rochester Hills, Michigan, office at 248-284-4859 or contact us through our website.
