A hysteroscopy is a medical procedure used to examine the inside of the uterus. It is carried out using a hysteroscope, which is a narrow telescope with a light and camera at the end. The hysteroscope is passed into the womb through the vagina and cervix, which means no cuts need to be made in the skin. The procedure can be used to diagnose and treat the causes of abnormal uterine bleeding, such as structural irregularities in the uterus, polyps, fibroid tumors, and displaced intrauterine devices (IUDs) . It can also be used to remove abnormal growths, prevent bleeding by destroying tissue using electric current, freezing, heat, or chemicals, and place small birth control inserts into the fallopian tubes.

A hysteroscopy is a simple procedure that is usually carried out on an outpatient or day-case basis, which means you wont normally need to stay in the hospital overnight. The procedure usually takes between 5 and 30 minutes. During the procedure, you will lie on a couch with your legs held in supports, and a sheet is used to cover your lower half. An instrument called a speculum may be inserted into your vagina to hold it open. In some cases, a small sample of tissue from the womb lining may be removed for further testing, which is known as an endometrial biopsy.

Before the procedure, you may be advised to have tests to check whether you can have the procedure, such as blood tests and a pregnancy test. You may also be advised to use contraception, as a hysteroscopy cannot be carried out if youre pregnant. Longer or more complicated procedures, such as the removal of fibroids, may be done under general anesthesia.

In summary, a hysteroscopy is a medical procedure used to examine the inside of the uterus. It can be used to diagnose and treat the causes of abnormal uterine bleeding, such as structural irregularities in the uterus, polyps, fibroid tumors, and displaced intrauterine devices (IUDs). The procedure is usually carried out on an outpatient or day-case basis and usually takes between 5 and 30 minutes. Before the procedure, you may be advised to have tests to check whether you can have the procedure, such as blood tests and a pregnancy test, and to use contraception.