Hysteroscopy is a procedure that allows a surgeon to look inside of your uterus in order to diagnose and treat the causes of abnormal bleeding. Hysteroscopy is done using a hysteroscope, a thin, lighted tube that’s inserted into your vagina to examine your cervix and the inside of your uterus. An operative hysteroscopy can be used to remove polyps, fibroids and adhesions.

Why Would I Need a Hysteroscopy?

The most common reasons for a hysteroscopy are periods that are longer or heavier than normal or bleeding between periods. You might need the procedure in these situations:

• Your Pap test results are abnormal.
• You’ve been bleeding after menopause.
• There are fibroids, polyps, adhesions, or scarring on your uterus.
• You’ve had more than one miscarriage.
• You’ve had problems with infertility.

Your doctor needs a small tissue sample (biopsy) of the lining of your uterus. You might have a hysteroscopy with a biopsy before you get a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure to remove more tissue from the uterine lining.

• Your IUD has come out of place.
• To confirm the results of an ultrasound, hysterosalpingography (HSG), or other tests looking at the cervix and uterus
• To open blocked fallopian tubes
• To place birth control implants that close off the fallopian tubes
• For surgery to treat fibroids, polyps, scarring, and more
• Together with a laparoscopy, which allows your doctor to see the outside of your uterus as well as other organs in your pelvis
• At times, a hysteroscopy might be done along with an endometrial biopsy before a full D&C procedure.