Hysteroscopy

Hysteroscopy

A hysteroscopy is a procedure by which your doctor looks inside your uterus. He or she uses a thin viewing tool called a hysteroscope. The tip of the hysteroscope is put into your vagina and gently moved through the cervix into the uterus. The hysteroscope has a light and camera hooked to it so your doctor can see the lining on a video screen.

A hysteroscopy may be done to:

• See whether a problem in the shape or size of the uterus or if scar tissue in the uterus is the cause of infertility. Your doctor can cut and remove scar tissues.
• Find out septum in uterus and cut the septum.
• Look at the uterine openings to the fallopian tubes. If the tubes are blocked, your doctor may be able to open the tubes with special tools passed through the hysteroscope. This procedure is called Cornual Cannulation.
• Find the possible cause of repeated miscarriages. Other tests may also be done.
• Find and remove a misplaced Intrauterine Device (IUD).
• Find and remove small fibroids or polyps.
• Check for endometrial cancer. The doctor can take biposy from suspected area and a septum is looked under a microscope for problems.
• Use heated tools to remove problem areas in the lining of the uterus (endometrial ablation).
• It's an important step before doing IVF. The doctor should know your uterine cavity is normal from inside and know the uterocervical length and angle.
• It is best to have a hysteroscopy done when you are not having your menstrual period. If there is a chance that you could become pregnant, the hysteroscopy should be done before you are ovulating so your doctor is sure you are not pregnant.

Another surgery, called a laparoscopy, may also be done at the same time as a hysteroscopy if infertility is a problem.