Hysteroscopy for Endometrial Ablation
What is a hysteroscopy?
A hysteroscopy is a procedure for looking at the inside of your uterus with a thin, flexible, lighted tube. This tube is called a hysteroscope. Your healthcare provider uses the scope to guide a tool into the uterus to remove the uterine lining.
The uterus is the muscular organ at the top of the vagina. Babies develop in the uterus, and menstrual blood comes from the uterus.
When is it used?
This procedure may be done when you have bleeding from the uterus that is very heavy or has lasted for a long time, and medical treatment or D&C has not helped the problem. You may have too much growth in the lining of your uterus, or your ovaries may not be working well.
Examples of alternatives to this procedure are:
- hormone therapy to stop menstrual bleeding
- D&C (dilation and curettage), which is a procedure for opening the cervix and then scraping or suctioning tissue from the uterus
- thermal balloon ablation, which is removal of the uterine lining by inserting a balloon filled with warm saltwater into the uterus
- CT scan or MRI
- removal of the uterus (hysterectomy)
- choosing not to have treatment
You should ask your provider about these choices.
It should not be used if you are pregnant, have a pelvic infection, cancer of the uterus or cervix, or recent surgery on the uterus.
How do I prepare for a hysteroscopy?
Before you have the procedure, you may take the hormone progesterone for a while to shrink the lining of the uterus.
Follow your healthcare provider's instructions about not smoking before and after the procedure. Smokers heal more slowly after surgery. They are also more likely to have breathing problems during surgery. For this reason, if you are a smoker, you should quit at least 2 weeks before the procedure. It is best to quit 6 to 8 weeks before surgery. Also, your body will heal much better if you do not smoke after the surgery.
Make plans for your care and recovery after the procedure. Allow for time to rest. Try to find other people to help you with your day-to-day duties.
Follow any other instructions your healthcare provider gives you. If you are to have general anesthesia, eat a light meal, such as soup or salad, the night before the procedure. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight or the morning before the procedure. Do not even drink coffee, tea, or water.
Your healthcare provider may put a laminaria (a small piece of seaweed that absorbs moisture) into the cervix the day before the hysteroscopy to help soften and dilate the cervix.
What happens during the procedure?
You will be given a local, regional, or general anesthetic before the procedure to keep you from feeling pain. A local or regional anesthetic numbs part of your body while you remain awake. It should keep you from feeling pain during the procedure. You may be also given a sedative to relax you. A general anesthetic relaxes your muscles, puts you to sleep, and prevents you from feeling pain.
The healthcare provider then stretches open (dilates) your cervix. The cervix is the opening to your uterus. He or she guides a hysteroscope into your vagina, through the cervix, and into your uterus. Gas or fluid may be released through the scope to inflate your uterus. This helps your provider see the uterus better. The provider uses a small laser or other tool to remove or destroy the lining of the uterus.
What happens after the procedure?
You may stay in the hospital several hours or overnight if necessary.
After the procedure you may:
- feel sleepy or groggy from the anesthetic
- have some cramps
- have trouble urinating the first few hours after the procedure
- have a watery or bloody discharge for 3 or 4 weeks
After this procedure you cannot give birth to children. If you have concerns about this, discuss them with your healthcare provider.
Ask your provider how to care for yourself after the procedure and when you should come back for a checkup.
What are the benefits of this procedure?
Bleeding from the uterus should stop because the lining of the uterus has been removed. Hysteroscopy is a short procedure and has a quick and easy recovery. This procedure can help you avoid the discomfort, hospitalization, expense, and longer recovery of a hysterectomy.
What are the risks associated with this procedure?
A hysteroscopy is a very safe procedure and rarely has complications. Possible complications may include:
- A local or regional anesthetic may not numb the area quite enough and you may feel some minor discomfort. Also, in rare cases, you may have an allergic reaction to the drug used in this type of anesthesia. In most cases, local or regional anesthesia is considered safer than general anesthesia. There are some risks when you have general anesthesia. Discuss these risks with your provider.
- You may have infection or bleeding.
- Rarely, the uterus could be punctured and need surgery to repair it.
- Rarely, the bowel or bladder may be injured.
- You may have an allergic reaction to the fluid used during the procedure.
You should ask your healthcare provider how these risks apply to you.
When should I call my healthcare provider?
Call your provider right away if:
- You start to bleed a lot (like a menstrual period).
- You develop a fever over 100°F (37.8°C).
- You have a lot of pain in your lower abdomen.
- You have a vaginal discharge with a bad odor.
Call during office hours if:
- You have questions about the procedure or its result.
- You want to make another appointment.
Developed by RelayHealth.
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
