Hysteroscopy Does Have Risks Which Could Be Serious and You Should Be Aware of These. These

Hysteroscopy does have risks which could be serious and you should be aware of these. These include:

• Uterine perforation
• Pelvic Infection

As part of your care, when you come to the hospital, information about you is shared between members of a health care team, some of whom you may not meet. It may be used to help train any staff involved in your care. Information we collect may also be used after you have been treated to help us to maintain and improve the quality of our care, to plan services, or to research into new developments.

We may pass on information to other health organisations to help improve the quality of care provided by the NHS generally.

All information is treated as strictly confidential, and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.Under the Data Protection Act (1998), Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you.

This leaflet was produced by the Gynaecology Team at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS and will be reviewed in August 2011

Ref: 1836

Gynaecology

Having an Outpatient

Hysteroscopy

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Working in Partnership to Provide a

Quality Healthcare Service

You have been advised to have a hysteroscopy to help find the cause of your problems. This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about this. This leaflet may not answer all your questions so if you have any worries, please ask the staff, as they will be able to answer any queries.

Hysteroscopy is a technique that allows a doctor or nurse to look directly into your womb. A thin telescope called a hysteroscope is passed gently through the cervix (the neck of the womb) into the womb itself. A television camera can be attached to the hysteroscope, so that you will be able to see inside the womb. At this stage, any disease or abnormality can be seen and a biopsy (a sample of tissue) taken if necessary.

Before you come to have your hysteroscopy please eat and drink as normal. You may also take some pain relief prior to having the procedure.(Either Co-codamol or Ibuprofen are recommended unless you are allergic to either of them). When you come to the department the doctor or nurse will explain the procedure to you. At this stage, if there are any questions that you would like to ask about the procedures please do so. You need to inform the doctor or the nurse present if you have any allergies or have had any bad reactions to drugs or other tests in the past. They also would like to know about any previous surgery or operations you have had performed.

You will be asked to remove all clothing below the waist.A nurse will be with you throughout and you will be made to feel as comfortable as possible on an examination couch or chair. Then you will be asked to rest your legs on two leg supports. The same sort of instrument which is used when you have a smear test is put inside the vagina, to enable the doctor/nurse to see the neck of the womb.Sometimes a little local anaesthetic is injected into the neck of the womb.The hysteroscope is gently placed close to the outer opening of the neck of the womb. Fluid is passed through the hysteroscope as it slowly passes through the neck of the womb into the womb.If desired you can watch the process on the nearby television screen. During this time you may get some cramps within the lower part of the tummy, not unlike period pain. These will settle after the procedure. You may have a biopsy of the lining of the womb, taken at the end. If you find the procedure uncomfortable, please inform the doctor or nurse.Occasionally you may have a dull ache for a few hours after the test, but simple pain killers such as Ibuprofen or Co-codamol will usually help. Any findings seen can be explained at the time. The whole procedure is likely to take about 10 minutes. Although women are often worried about this test, most do not find it too much trouble and are surprised that it is over so quickly. It is extremely rare to have any complication after this procedure. Rarely are we unable to pass the hysteroscope into the womb and the procedure will have to be abandoned. The doctor /Nurse will explain what options are available.

After the examination you will be asked to rest in a nearby waiting area where you are encouraged to have a drink. You may eat and drink normally after the procedure. Most women will have a little vaginal bleeding for a day or so. It is a good idea to bring your partner or friend to accompany you home. However you will not have received any drugs which will affect driving or operating machinery.We advise you not to use tampons, have intercourse or go swimming until your bleeding has stopped. If your bleeding becomes heavier than a normal period or you have a discharge that is offensive then you should contact your GP for advice.

Immediately after the examination the doctor or nurse will explain the findings to you. If samples are obtained or a polyp removed at the time of the procedure, it will be several weeks before the results are available. You may have your results sent to you by letter or you may receive a follow up appointment.

Women and Children’s Hospital,

Gynaecology Outpatients 01482 607893