Hysteroscopy - A Tool for Diagnosing Infertility

Hysteroscopy uses a hysteroscope, which is a thin telescope that is inserted through the cervix into the uterus. Modern hysteroscopes are so thin that they can fit through the cervix with minimal or no dilation. Your doctor will be able to view the interior of your uterus via a monitor in his office.

This procedure allows your physician to determine whether there are any abnormalities such as fibroid tumors, polyps, scar tissue, a uterine septum, or some other uterine problem.

This procedure is an out-patient procedure that is done in a hospital or your physicians office. The actual procedure takes 2-5 minutes - and no anesthesia is needed for most cases of diagnostic hysteroscopy if a microhysteroscope is used. Your doctor may apply a local anesthesia to limit the discomfort you may feel. If operative work is required, then general or local anesthesia is used.

If you have this procedure, you normally are discharged home approximately 15-30 minutes after the procedure is done.

Return to work or resuming your normal daily activities by the next morning if general anesthesia was used, or immediately if no anesthesia (or local) was used, is the norm. Mild pain and cramping is common after operative hysteroscopy, but it usually is brief (lasting perhaps 30 minutes, possibly up to 8 hours).