I am booked in for a hysteroscopy on Saturday before we start ivf and I am wondering what to expect? I’m worried about pain during the procedure as I have so much pain in that area anyway. Im also worried about what they might find as I know I have deep endo on the uterosacral ligament which causes a lot of pain but the doc thinks the excessive bleeding might be due to something amiss in my womb which is why he wants to have a look before we start ivf.
Any thoughts would be really helpful 🙂
TIA x
Written by
Bride2be
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
It's a camera up your vagina through your cervix to your uterus. Specialists use it to see anything different in those areas and can also take biopsies.
I had mine under general anaesthetic with my excision laparoscopy so I'm not sure about pain, I would think it would hurt even if they put local anaesthetic there especially if it's already painful in that area - I had the same as you. My specialist seemed keen to do it under general; he said he's never done one under local before; I had deep pain like a stabbing around my cervix with sex and near my periods so he said it would just make the pain worse if it were under local. There's a bit of spotting and cramping later and the next day from it.
That may not be the case with you; just being honest though. Is it something you could have done under general anaesthetic?
Just a side note; would it be better to have the endo excised and have the hysteroscopy before going for IVF? That's what I'm doing; My specialist and I decided to remove as much endo as could be done, check everything in there (as endo affects fertility and causes problems with tubes / ovaries) and then go for IVF if all looks like it would be fine as there's a better chance of conceiving within a year after the excision lap. I'm 36, and that's what he's suggested. IVF straight up may hurt and endo during pregnancy can hurt too as the scar tissue it leave can become stretched.
Just putting it all out there, feel free to ignore anything I say, it's your body xx
Please don’t have a hysterscope unless under a general anaesthetic. I’ve had 2, the first under a general anaesthetic so other than stinging from the other procedures and tests I had it was fine. The second was done without anesthetic and personally I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Not everyone feels it but I screamed through the biopsies, they took 3 and each was worse than the one before. I felt unwell, usually a sign I will pass out, I recovered and they then moved the chair at which point I did pass out.
I wasn’t prepared for the pain, the procedure is regarded as barbaric if you look it up, lots of calls for it not to be done unless under a GA.
The info I had said to take pain relief before hand of the normal type you take. It also said if you faint let them know so they can rebook for a GA. because of this I presumed I wouldn’t be having it that day, as I have fainted period pain being a trigger. I was talked into going ahead, I deeply regret it.
Wow thank you starfish123, I’m so sorry you had such a horrible experience. We had a round of ivf a couple of years ago and when they did the embryo transfer it was absolute agony and I don’t think I can go through that kind of pain again. I know I have a tilted cervix too which adds to the pain. I will call the hospital today and ask for sedation.
The first was not. Pleasant experience. It was done while I was awake. I had my usual pain medication before hand. They offered my gas and air, but I couldnt bring myself to have the mask over my face.
The pain was extremely unpleasant and I had to ask them to stop several times. It was the person doing the procedure that delayed my request, not the nurse who voiced my request to him several times as well.
I do not recommend having this procedure without a general if you already have pain. I do find a standard pap examination painful as well and had to have my last one cut short.
I had my second hysteroscopy under a general and therefore was not awake during the procedure so did not experience the procedure itself.
If you choose to have it without a general, this is how mine went from a general information pov:
I arrived for my appointment.
I met with the person performing the procedure and they explained what it entails and that I was in control and the procedure would be stopped immediately on my request (in my case this did not occur).
I was then taken to the procedure room. I had worn a skirt without stockings so did not have to take any clothing off except my shoes and underwear. I had to hike my skirt up around my waist to avoid it getting wet during the procedure.
The chair you sit in is fitted with stirrups for your legs. There should be a nurse assigned to stand near your hear who will talk you through what is going on and act as a go through to the person performing the procedure.
They use a lot of water which they will run into your vaginal area to provide lubrication.
They insert a camera to look and at the end may take a biopsy.
The actual time from going into the room to leaving it takes maybe 15/20 minutes.
Once they had withdrawn the instruments I was able to get up and I was shown a bathroom to dry off, tidy myself and put a pad on. You will bleed afterwards and I recommend taking your preferred pad so you are not left using the NHS one. You can not use any sort of alternative that needs to me inserted such as a tampon or diva cup.
I was then led to a recovery area that was just a group of comfy chairs. We were offered tea and biscuits. You sit there to recover and to wait and see if you have any abnormally heavy bleeding after before they tell you that you can leave.
The first time I got up to leave I was walking out when my legs gave out. This is not something the is 'usual' but it is also not 'uncommon'. It can happen due to nerves being stimulated or an after effect of being in the stirrups for so long. It is temporary.
About 15 minutes later I was told to check and make sure I wasn't bleeding heavily and I was permitted to leave.
I was in heavy pain with cramps and lower back pain after for a couple of days, but this is not a new sensation for me, even without the hysteroscopy aggregating.
I initially thought I wasn't going to bleed past the day of the procedure as I seemed to stop bleeding in the evening, but it returned and I bled for 2-3 weeks in all. It is worth mentioning that my periods are abnormal and at the time I was experiencing issues with prolonged and heavy periods in case this has by bearing on my situation.
When I went in and had the procedure under a general it was not during pandemic times. The usual procedures to prep for any sort of surgery were done. Checks for allergies, a review of my blood pressure, I met with the consultant and the anathesiologist. The risks were gone over with me.
When I went down I walked to the surgery prep room and this is were I was put under. Due to my trouble with having things over my face they put me under before putting the oxygen mask on me. This is done my inserting the little needle port on the back of your hand that they then administer any medication through. You might find your arms started to go cold and hurt but it will be a matter of seconds as you will be under very quickly once that starts. It is just the medication going in.
I woke up back in my room. You may wake in a recovery area instead. I was kept in and monitored for a couple of hours free I came round and afterwards allowed to leave.
I was innpain afterwards. It was worse than the first time but my usual pain levels are worse anyhow and this may be why. Again, I bled like before.
I have social anxiety which did have some affect on each experience. My GP did advise me before had to request a general rather than having the hysteroscopy without one but my gynaecologist required that I attempt one without a general first.
Not everyone has as much discomfort. I fonexperience pain most days, and it is treated with heat, a tens machine, Mefenamic acid and tramadol. These don't always adequately manage the pain for me these days. I am telling you this for transparency in case it has a bearing on the amount of pain I experienced during and after the procedure.
Whichever way you have the procedure I wish you luck. If you have it under a general you should receive some feedback befor leaving the hospital but the official report won't be back for several weeks, possibly over a month or two (depending on how fast your biopsy results are processed and reported).
Take care and I wish you a quick and easy as possible experience.
Thank you Missy100, sorry to hear about your painful experiences ☹️ I am waiting for a call back from one of the nurses about some sedation for the procedure. I really hope they can do some kind of anaesthetic but who knows in Covid times! Fingers crossed 🤞
I had a hysteroscopy yesterday under general anaesthetic to check for bleeding after menopause. Everything seems to be ok but consultant took couple of biopsies just to check. Went in at 7.30am got home about 4pm. Got mild cramping afterwards slight bleeding.”, but more red bleeding today. It’s only day after operation so might take a bit to settle down , if not by next week will give doctor a fone. Apart from that ok and still a bit cramping. I know it’s not the same as you have got but might give you an insight to someone else having a hysteroscopy. I like you was anxious . Take care and good luck xx
Think it was vaginal atrophy but not sure yet. Doctor took biopsy but won’t get results for another 2/3 weeks yet so fingers crossed ok.I got general anaesthetic and it was ok. Bleeding has stopped but have to keep an eye on it . Thanks for asking xx
I had mine with gas n air but was horrendous, I told them to stop. I was in agony for ages afterwards and bled. I had it under general in the end at the same time as my laparoscopic surgery. They removed both my tubes as they were blocked and would cause problems for me during IVF, but they couldn’t remove any Endo due to it all being stuck to my bowels they said. Just make sure you are comfortable with your specialist and what they are offering you. I changed mine and made me feel so much more comfortable about the whole thing
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Laparoscopy, Hysteroscopy and Coil Fitting
Hysteroscopy For Fitting Mierena 
What is a hysteroscopy like? 
Hysteroscopy and laparoscopy at the same time
How painful is hysteroscopy under general?
