OVERVIEW OF HYSTEROSCOPY WITH A DENVER FERTILITY SPECIALIST

What is Hysteroscopy?

Hysteroscopy is a method that allows a Denver fertility doctor to look inside the uterus to help treat and diagnose any cause of abnormal bleeding, recurrent miscarriages or infertility. It is performed using a thin, lighted tube (hysteroscope) inserted into the vagina to get a clear view of the inside of the uterus and the cervix.

What Is a Diagnostic Hysteroscopy?
Diagnostic hysteroscopy helps to diagnose uterine problems. It can see if a patient has fibroids, polyps or scar tissue in the uterus.  It can also check the shape of the inside of the uterus.

Hysteroscopy can also be used together with other procedures such as dilation and curettage or laparoscopy to increase success of the procedures. In a laparoscopy, the Colorado reproductive doctor inserts an endoscope into the abdomen to examine the fallopian tubes, the ovaries and the outside of the uterus. An incision made below or through the navel is used to insert the endoscope.

What Is an Operative Hysteroscopy?

Operative hysteroscopy helps to correct any abnormal condition detected by a diagnostic hysteroscopy. An operative hysteroscopy can be performed at the same time with diagnostic hysteroscopy in case there is an abnormal condition.  This will help avoid a second surgery. The operation is done using small instruments inserted through a hysteroscope to correct the abnormalities found.

When Can Operative Hysteroscopy be used?

A fertility specialist in Colorado may recommend hysteroscopy if you have any of the following uterine conditions:

Adhesions: These are also referred as Asherman’s syndrome. These are scar tissues that build up inside the uterus, and can result in infertility and menstrual flow changes.

Abnormal bleeding: Hysteroscopy procedure can help determine the cause of prolonged and heavy menstrual flow. It can also determine what causes bleeding after menopause or bleeding between the periods.

Uterine anomalies: Hysteroscopy can help determine the presence of uterine septum, a uterus malformation that begins from birth.  It can look for unicornuate uteri or other congenital birth defects of the uterus.

Fibroids and polyps: Hysteroscopy procedure can also remove these non-cancerous growths in the uterus.

What are the Advantages of Hysteroscopy?
If you compare Hysteroscopy with other invasive procedures, hysteroscopy has several advantages such as:

• Avoids hysterectomy
• Shorter hospital stay
• Fewer pain drugs needed after the surgery
• Shorter recovery time
• A patient may avoid open abdominal surgery

Ensure you consulting your doctor before any hysteroscopy procedures to have all the information of what to expect.

Are There Risks Involved In Hysteroscopy?

The process is relatively safe. However, as with other types of surgeries, complication may arise anytime. Hysteroscopy complications which occur are less than 1% and they includes:

• Infection
• Risks associated with anesthesia
• Heavy bleeding
• Intrauterine scarring

• Reaction to substances used to expand the uterus to see inside the uterine cavity
• Injury to bowel, bladder or cervix if perforation of the uterus occurs

What to Expect After The Hysteroscopy Procedure

If general anesthesia is used in the process, the patient will be under observed for some hours before being discharged back home. Once the procedure is done, the patient may experience slight vaginal bleeding or cramps for 1 to 2 days.