Having a hysteroscopy in the outpatient department

If you are having a hysteroscopy in an outpatient department, you can read more information about this on the Royal College of Gynaecologists website.

On the day of your procedure

You can eat and drink as normal and take your usual medicines.

We recommend that you take painkillers 15 minutes before your appointment. This will help to prevent any period type pain afterwards.

You will be awake during the procedure. Please tell the doctor or nurse if you feel any discomfort.

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 procedure

You might like to arrange for someone else to come to the appointment with you and accompany you home.

You should be able to return to normal activities later that day or the next day.

Managing pain and discomfort

You might feel some mild, period-like pain or cramps. Some discomfort is to be expected after the procedure and you can take pain relief (such as paracetamol) as instructed.

If you find that the pain is hard to control, please contact your GP or the emergency pregnancy and acute gynaecology unit (EPAGU) on 020 7188 0864.