Having a hysteroscopy in day theatres

You might have a hysteroscopy in one of our day surgery theatres.

You will have general anaesthetic, which is medicine that makes sure you are asleep during the procedure. Having a general anaesthetic means that you will need to fast.

• You must not eat for 6 hours before surgery.
• You can drink water up to 2 hours before surgery.
• You can take your usual medicines with small sips of water.

You can read our information about having an anaesthetic and fasting, and we talk to you about this.

We might use a general anaesthetic for your hysteroscopy because:

• treating fibroids or polyps or the removal of the endometrium can be painful
• it has been decided that another procedure, such as a laparoscopy will be done at the same time. A laparoscopy is a procedure which examines the inside of your tummy (abdomen)
• you have told us that you would prefer to be asleep. We will talk to you about the benefits and risks of this

During the hysteroscopy

We may use an instrument, called a speculum, which is placed within your vagina to help the doctor or nurse see your cervix. A speculum is the same instrument used during a cervical smear. Your cervix may then be opened slightly using a smooth instrument called a dilator.

We use a hysteroscope, which is a small, fibre-optic telescope attached to a small camera, to look at the inside of your uterus.

Sterile fluid is then run into your uterus to expand it and helps the doctor or nurse to see the lining of your uterus. After the lining of your uterus has been examined, a tiny sample of the lining may be removed. This is called a biopsy.

If you are being treated for fibroids or polyps, we use a resectoscope to fully or partially remove them.

The procedure takes between 10 and 30 minutes.

The tissue from the biopsy and the removed fibroid or polyp is then sent to the laboratory to be examined.

After the hysteroscopy

A responsible adult must take you home and be with you for 24 hours after the procedure.

You might feel dizzy and tired and the anaesthetic can take 24 to 48 hours to wear off but you don't need to stay in bed. 

Gently moving around your home will help your blood circulation and help to prevent blood clots.

For the first 24 to 48 hours: 

Managing pain and discomfort

When you wake up you might feel some mild tummy period-like pain or cramps. Some discomfort is to be expected after the procedure and we will give you pain relief for this.

It's important that you take your pain relief on a regular basis for the first few days. When taken regularly, the medicine is kept at a constant level in your body, so it will control your pain better.

After a few days, you can gradually reduce the medicine until you do not need it any longer. 

Any medicine given to you will be explained to you before you leave the hospital.  

Please contact the day surgery unit or your GP if you find the pain difficult to control or if you are worried about anything.

It is important that you do not exceed the recommended daily dose of any medicine you are given. Please make sure you read the label.