Hysteroscopy

Generally speaking, this examination can be performed on virtually all women, even those who have not had sexual intercourse, as the position of a speculum or vaginal separator is not necessary.

Sometimes, it may be necessary to take an anti-inflammatory before performing the examination, for example if you have painful periods or if you have a medical history that advises preventive consumption.

This examination may not take place in cases in which the cervix is very closed (naturally or due to previous surgeries), since this can obstruct the path towards the interior of the uterus.

Like any medical procedure, this technique is not without its complications.

Therefore, before the test, the patient will be informed thereof via the appropriate informed consent form, but in our experience complications are rare.

This depends on the previous diagnosis.

• In the case of inflammation of the endometrium, which can cause pain in the lower abdomen or reproductive problems, such as miscarriages or implantation failures during in vitro fertilisation cycles, specific antibiotics, and sometimes also anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended.
• In the case of pathologies such as polyps, fibroids, adhesions or septa, the solution will be hysteroscopic surgery itself, as hysteroscopes that can perform manoeuvres with scalpels have been developed.

It is not always necessary to perform hysteroscopic surgery in an operating room.

There are hysteroscopes that allow small procedures to be carried out in the practice itself, thus avoiding going to the operating room.

In any case, the procedure usually lasts no more than 5 minutes and in these cases you will always be accompanied by our nursing team who will assist you during the process.

It is performed in an operating room:

• As long as the woman wants it to be.
• When the hysteroscopist estimates that the procedure will take more than 5 minutes, which is a reasonable time to practice in consultation without anaesthesia.
• When the pathology to be treated is larger than normal.
• When more extensive procedures are to be performed, such as for a large myoma or an endometrial ablation, also known as an endometrectomy ^*

^* Endometrectomy or endometrial ablation is a hysteroscopic technique that consists of trimming the entire layer responsible for menstruation in women who do not wish to have more children and who suffer heavy menstruations which do not allow them to go about their daily lives and cause phases of anaemia.

The process of returning to daily activity after a hysteroscopy will depend case to case:

• For a diagnostic hysteroscopy consultation, which was recommended only to examine the interior of the uterus, it is not necessary to take any precautionary measure or special care. But if you're trying to get pregnant, you should avoid having sex until after your next period.
• For a hysteroscopic surgery consultation, it will depend primarily on whether you have taken relaxants, as they leave a feeling of drowsiness which will make you need to rest for the rest of that day. But from the day after, you'll be able to live an absolutely normal life in every respect.
• For hysteroscopic surgery in an operating room, somewhat more extensive procedures are performed under anaesthesia, so it is advisable to rest for a few days to control the discomfort. You should also avoid sexual intercourse and immersion in water (swimming pool, bathtub etc.). After that, you'll be able to live a normal life.

At Dexeus Mujer we perform:

• Around 2,500 to 3,000 diagnostic consultation hysteroscopies each year.
• Approximately 250 consultative hysteroscopic surgeries per year.
• About 500 hysteroscopic surgeries in the operating room per year for the removal of endometrial polyps, submucosal fibroids, intrauterine adhesions, removal of malformations and endometrectomy ablations to control heavy menstruation.