Location
Gynaecology Outpatients, Ground Floor, Women and Children’s Hospital
Contact Number: 01482 607829
We offer an outpatient hysteroscopy service for women with heavy or irregular periods and other problems concerning the womb lining or cavity.
Hysteroscopy involves inserting a thin telescope into the womb through the vagina. This can be done without an anaesthetic as an especially thin telescope is used, which causes minimal discomfort and is usually well-tolerated.
Services available
- diagnosis and management of women with heavy or irregular periods
- diagnosis and management of women found or suspected to have womb polyps or thickened lining, fibroids or scar tissue within the womb cavity
- taking samples or biopsies from the womb lining
- treatment of polyps (womb growths) and scar tissue (adhesions)
- insertion of Mirena coil for treatment of heavy periods
- investigation of fertility problems or recurrent miscarriage.
Making an appointment
Patients are referred to the outpatient hysteroscopy clinic by their GP.
What to expect
We advise patients to take simple pain-killers, such as paracetamol or Ibuprofen, just before the procedure in order to prevent excessive discomfort. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes. If some treatment is required, this can usually be done at the same time. Most women experience a little bleeding and period-like cramp following the procedure.
We advise that patients should have someone to pick them up following the appointment where possible.
Occasionally, the entrance into the womb is too tight even to allow the passage of the tiny telescope, and these women require hysteroscopy under a general anaesthetic, which can be booked at the same visit.