Upcoming Hysteroscopy

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I had a hysteroscopy several years ago and I can honestly say it was no more unpleasant than a smear . I have heard other women say that was not their experience but for me it really was nothing to worry about - and I'm a real softy. The results were fine too. Good luck !

I believe this procedure involves a camera to look inside the womb. Apologies if I’ve muddled it. I’d so ignore the rest!

With no personal experience I have been told by others it’s a good idea to request (sometimes firmly!) sedation for this procedure as it can be uncomfortable. Some hospitals offer it automatically, while with others it’s necessary to make a request, one friend was even offered a general anaesthetic. It would seem a good idea to check with the hospital well before the procedure. Hope all goes well and there is a positive outcome.

Apologies. I misread hysterocopy as hysterectomy. I've asked for my post to be removed.

I was offered sedation but would have to come back another day for it. So I went ahead and a nice nurse held my hand. All went OK. Not my favourite activity but OK. Results were fine.

I've had 3 hysteroscopies and the hand-holding nurse was enough reassurance for me. It's not a pleasant experience having a camera inserted and it's a bizarre experience to be able to see inside yourself on a screen but it's not unbearable.

If your friend was sobbing with pain I'm surprised the doctor continued the procedure as I am sure I was told each time that I should tell them if it was painful and they'd stop.

Each time polyps were found which meant removal under general anaesthetic a couple of weeks later.

Same as anna and Cressida. No real problem but I was advised to take paracetamol beforehand and possibly after.

I have been told it was unbearable but my experience was nothing like that.
I would not be honest if I said it was painless , it isn’t, but it is more uncomfortable with one sharp pain as the camera went through the cervix , like a period pain, after that it was ok.
Don’t worry needlessly, it is a short procedure and the staff at mine were excellent.
How often do you get told, oh look there are your Fallopian tubes!!

I couldn’t bear to look !

Not too bad until you need to pee afterwards😱.

Perhaps things have improved in the last few years since I had a hysteroscopy, but I found it to be extremely painful.

Excruciatingly painful and would demand general anesthetic should I ever require another one. If men had to endure this level of barbarity a GA would be compulsory.

After an ultrasound i had this procedure unexpectedly, I passed out with the pain then vomited, I was given oxygen to bring me round. Luckily I had a rain coat to put on after to cover up. Please ensure you have someone waiting for you and that you have
access to pain relief.

I heard much the same horror stories regarding a colposcopy and have now had several. There was a little discomfort with my first, but that could have been my 'tension' as other times there was none. The doctors performing the procedure were very considerate and a nurse was always in attendance too.

Sometimes i think you are better to go into these procedures without hearing other peoples horror stories. We all experience and handle pain differently.

The NHS website explains the pain relief available for a hysteroscopy so perhaps you should look at that and you will know yourself whether you should opt for some.

Good luck with yours.

You won't know if you are one of about a third who have the procedure who suffer extreme pain until you have it.
I generally handle pain quite easily, get on with things don't make a fuss, I couldn't believe the agony. I wouldn't have another without a general anaesthetic,

I had one a couple of years ago. An anaesthetic into the cervix and it was the saline (?) solution method rather than gas.

Was it uncomfortable, yes - briefly though - as others have said, like cramping.
Wasn't unbearable though.

I was told to take 2 paracetamol and 2 ibuprofen before hand.

My daughter has had 3. Two were fine and one was not.
I wonder if it's the skill of the person doing it (and the size of the instrument).

Ask for it to be done with a General Anaesthetic, it's your right. I've had three and told them straight after my first experience it will never be done without one. I have a retroverted womb and nobody told me that it can make the whole procedure more difficult, hence I won't have it done without a General. You will be fine. If you need painkillers ask, don't be heavy lifting for a few days and have your preferred painkiller to hand. You will be fine.

I had one recently, wasn’t given much info beforehand, but I read about taking pain relief so did that an hour before. They give you a big long chat explaining all the things that might go wrong 😳 then ask if you want to go ahead. The procedure is undignified and it did hurt, was like sudden sharp period cramps, but didn’t last too long. A lovely nurse will hold your hand and ask you if you have anything nice planned for the rest of the day, bit like being at the hairdresser 😆 I didn’t like looking at my innards on the screen so didn’t watch! Best to have someone else drive you home afterwards, I felt quite shaky. You will bleed a little for a few days afterwards.

I know of someone who had a GA for a hysteroscopy and they found she had fibroids which they couldn't/weren't prepared to remove so she had to go back for another operation.