When you have problems that involve your uterus, the team at Capital Women’s Care may recommend a hysteroscopy.
A hysteroscopy uses a thin, lighted, telescopic device to evaluate or treat problems of your uterus. Your Capital Women’s Care provider inserts the device through your vagina into your uterus. Images from the hysteroscope are transmitted onto a screen.
This procedure sounds daunting, but it’s minimally invasive and incredibly valuable in treating a number of conditions.
Here are some of the reasons we might recommend you undergo a hysteroscopy.
If you have bleeding between periods or periods that occur more frequently, are more heavy, or last longer (or shorter) than normal, you have abnormal uterine bleeding. Bleeding after you’ve gone through menopause is also considered abnormal.
A hysteroscopy can detect fibroids, endometriosis, or polyps responsible for this bleeding. During the procedure, your provider can also use other instruments to remove the offending, noncancerous growths to resolve abnormal bleeding.
Adhesions are scar tissue that may form between the inner walls of the uterus. The walls abnormally stick to each other, causing all sorts of complications.
You may develop adhesions due to prior surgery, certain medical conditions, or infection. A hysteroscopy can identify these adhesions and be used to remove them.
A hysteroscopy can help determine whether you have a uterine septum. This is a defect of the uterus that is present from birth. It means you have a membrane that divides the inner portion of the uterus at its middle, increasing your risk of miscarriage.
If you’ve had more than two miscarriages in a row, your provider may recommend a hysteroscopy to look for uterine abnormalities that could be the cause. Sometimes, your uterus can be repaired during the procedure to give you a better chance at a healthy pregnancy.
When you have an IUD implanted, the device's “tail” or threads can be felt to ensure the device is in place. If these threads aren’t visible or palpable, the IUD may have shifted position. A hysteroscopy is the best way to look for the device when it seems to have moved.
Sometimes a fertilized egg fails to implant in the uterus. The pregnancy still causes you to have symptoms of being with child, even though the ectopic pregnancy is not viable. A hysteroscopy can diagnose an ectopic pregnancy and, in some cases, remove the ectopic pregnancy.
A hysteroscopy is performed in-office and generally doesn’t require anesthesia. You’re given a sedative to help you relax, however.
The procedure is relatively quick and involves no surgical incisions or stitches. Your provider dilates your cervix, and once it’s widened, inserts the hysteroscope through your vagina and cervix into your uterus.
A carbon dioxide gas enters your uterus through the hysteroscope. The gas helps expand your uterus and clear away blood and mucus so your provider can get the best view. Your provider assesses your uterus and the openings of the fallopian tubes.
If you’re undergoing a diagnostic hysteroscopy, your procedure ends here. If surgery needs to be performed, small instruments are inserted through the hysteroscope.
The experienced OB/GYN team at Capital Women’s Care walks you through every step of your hysteroscopy or any gynecological procedures you need.
The office offers comprehensive gynecological care to women in Silver Spring and Laurel, Maryland. Call today for an appointment or use the online tool.
