Exploring The Inside Of Your Uterus
A hysteroscope is a small lighted
instrument (scope) used to look inside
a woman's uterus (hyster). A video
camera attached to the hysteroscope
allows greater accuracy, as the doctor
can see the inside of the uterus on a
TV screen.
The uses of hysteroscopy range from a
10 to 15 minute office procedure for
diagnosis to long complex operations
under general anesthetic for treatment
of various conditions.
How It's Done
The hysteroscope is inserted into the
vagina, then through the cervical
opening into the womb. A side
connection to the hysteroscope allows a
salt or sugar solution or carbon
dioxide gas to flow into the uterus, to
expand it and make it easier to see
inside.
Useful For
- Identifying the cause of excessive or
irregular bleeding.
- Diagnosing uterine fibroids (benign
tumours).
- Diagnosing uterine and cervical polyps
(benign tube-like protrusions).
- Diagnosing and treating uterine cancer.
- Surgically removing small fibroids and
polyps.
- Removing larger fibroids after they've
been shrunk with medication.
- Examining the uterus in infertility
investigations.
- Finding and removing a misplaced IUD.
- Destroying the uterine lining
(endometrial ablation) for women with
severe bleeding, as an alternative to
hysterectomy.
Complications
- Office procedure is very safe.
- With general anesthetic, 3 percent
complication rate.
- Complications include uterine
perforation; reaction to the liquid or
gas used to expand the uterine cavity;
small risk of gas embolism (blocked
blood vessel caused by gas in the
blood) fluid overload and heart
failure; rarely pelvic infection.
