Hysteroscopy is a popular diagnostic and therapeutic procedure used for various pathologies of the uterine cavity. This procedure was first performed in 1869. After 100 years, hysteroscopy has become available for many women, it is now possible to conduct it in almost any antenatal clinic or in gynecological departments.
Description of the procedure: main features
Any woman who has to undergo gynecological manipulation, especially if she is associated with the use of tools, naturally, is concerned with a number of questions: will it hurt, what are the possible complications, how will the procedure affect reproductive function and is pregnancy possible after hysteroscopy? In order to get answers to them, it is necessary to clearly understand how this medical manipulation is performed. Hysteroscopy is carried out after a thorough examination, which is performed by a gynecologist using a specialized hysteroscope apparatus. During the procedure, the doctor sees the uterine cavity using the camera, which is placed on the device. The image is displayed in enlarged form on the screen, which allows the specialist to see the presence of any pathological processes and assess the severity, and often make a decision to eliminate the pathology.
Why is this procedure needed?
Hysteroscopy makes it possible to examine the uterine cavity with the possibility of further conducting the necessary various manipulations in the patient:
- Elimination of myoma uterus.
- Monitoring the remains of the ovum after abortion.
- Removal of endometrial polyps by diagnostic curettage.
- Surgical abortion.
- Endometrial targeted biopsy.
Indications for
Hysteroscopy can be performed both routinely and in an emergency. Routine medical manipulations are performed in such cases:
- the presence of polyps in the uterus;
- endometrial hyperplasia;
- violations of the ovarian-menstrual cycle;
- adenomyosis and submucous myoma;
- various abnormalities in the development of the uterus;
- suspected presence of endometrial cancer cells;
- removal of ingrown or IUD residues;
- unsuccessful IVF;
- infertility;
- the impossibility of bearing a pregnancy.
Emergency indications for:
- some severe bleeding;
- some types of polyps (e.g., placental);
- born myoma uterus;
- endometritis of postpartum origin;
- suspicion of discrepancy of sutures after cesarean section.
The benefits of hysteroscopy
This examination method is one of the safest. According to reviews, pregnancy after hysteroscopy is not only possible. In some cases, the chances of having a baby increase. The doctor has the opportunity to visually assess the condition of the mucous membrane, in addition to, importantly, take a biopsy from the adverse areas for further examination of pathological cells. If necessary, a complete curettage of the entire endometrium is performed, and most importantly, this method reduces to zero the likelihood of residues and non-scraped areas. Another of the most important advantages is that hysteroscopy performed on time can reveal the development of cancer cells in the uterine cavity. The sooner the patient finds out about this and consults a doctor, the more chances he has for a favorable outcome of the disease.
Hysteroscopy for a surgical abortion
This procedure when aborting will cost an order of magnitude more expensive than a conventional abortion. Unfortunately, many women are forced to go to this procedure not of their own free will. The cases are different: missed pregnancy, fetal malformations, failed IVF. Therefore, many are interested in the possibility of pregnancy after hysteroscopy of the uterus. And here this opportunity increases at times, because, firstly, there is a clear control, which is the key to security; secondly, the probability of damage to the deep layer of the endometrium is excluded; thirdly, when scraping the fetal egg, there is practically no chance of its residues, since the procedure takes place under full visual control.
Uterine fibroids treatment
The use of hysteroscopy for the removal of uterine fibroids is possible if, according to ultrasound, it is small in size and myomatous nodes are located in the submucous layer of the uterus. The presence of the myoma node in young women is often the cause of infertility or spontaneous abortion. Previously, operations of this kind were performed only through the abdominal cavity. The advantage of this method is not only the absence of cuts in the abdominal cavity, but also the preservation of the uterus itself, which is important when planning a pregnancy after hysteroscopy. Carrying out this kind of examination will reveal to the doctor a complete picture of the patient’s health status and will help to prescribe adequate treatment.
Chances of getting pregnant after hysteroscopy
No doctor can give a definite answer. Pregnancy after hysteroscopy can certainly be, it all depends on the specific problems of the patient. Using this procedure, the condition of the fallopian tubes is quite successfully determined, and if polyps or adhesions are found in them, then eliminating them often helps women conceive a child. When the endometrial polyp is removed during the procedure, pregnancy after hysteroscopy can begin to be planned no earlier than after 3-6 months, at which time the patient is most often recommended to use oral contraceptives. Polyps are overgrowths of the uterine lining. Their appearance is usually associated with hormonal disorders in the body. A woman who has a polyp in her uterine cavity often cannot get pregnant because polyps act on the body in the same way as a spiral. The statistics for this disease are very good: 90% of women manage to conceive a child after hysteroscopy with the removal of polyps and further hormonal treatment.
It should be borne in mind that the body of each person is individual, but we can say for sure that if the polyp was removed, pregnancy after hysteroscopy has an increased chance. In the treatment of infertility, this medical procedure is now being used more and more often. Based on the patient’s diagnosis (ovarian dysfunction, endometriosis, and much more), the doctor comprehensively examines and tries to eliminate the pathology. In the event that pregnancy does not occur after hysteroscopy, then a woman is recommended to perform IVF.
When can I plan to conceive a child?
One of the important questions for women who want to have a baby: when to plan a pregnancy after hysteroscopy? Not a single doctor can give the exact answer because everything is very individual. After medical manipulations, the patient must be observed by a doctor and carry out all his appointments. According to the recommendations of specialists, pregnancy during the first 6 months after the procedure is undesirable. There are cases that after hysteroscopy, pregnancy occurred already in the second cycle after the examination. But still this is a risk, such a medical intervention often entails subsequent treatment in the form of taking antibacterial or hormonal drugs, which will adversely affect the woman in position.
They try to carry out hysteroscopy on the 6th-9th day of the menstrual cycle, and after it the patient will need sexual rest for 3 weeks. In the event that the patient feels well and has not revealed any disorders, then in a month she can already plan a pregnancy after endometrial hysteroscopy, but it’s better to wait longer. In some cases, the type of treatment and its timing will affect the timing of conception planning, which will be determined by the nature of the pathology revealed during the examination.
It is important for a woman to understand that the timing of conception planning and its implementation are two different things. It all depends not on hysteroscopy, but on gynecological health at the moment. Many couples succeed in fertilization after 6 months. Some do it only after a few years. We can safely conclude that hysteroscopy does not negatively affect the reproductive function of women, and in some cases it can be prescribed in the treatment of infertility.
Contraindications to the procedure
Before hysteroscopy, a qualified doctor always examines the patient, identifying the presence or absence of contraindications to this medical manipulation. Contraindications include viral and infectious diseases (SARS, tonsillitis, influenza), acute inflammatory and infectious diseases in the pelvic organs, cardiovascular diseases, uterine cancer, pregnancy, uterine stenosis, excessive uterine discharge, the presence of large tumors. In such a situation, the gynecologist appoints the appropriate treatment, which is aimed primarily at minimizing all the adverse effects of the hysteroscopy procedure.
Patient's health after hysteroscopy
The appearance of abundant vaginal bleeding immediately after medical procedures of this kind is the norm. This usually lasts 7 days, but for some it can take up to 3 weeks. If after 3 weeks a person experiences severe pain or bleeding does not go away, then you should immediately consult a doctor. Hysteroscopy is usually carried out on the 6th-9th day of a woman's cycle, that is, before ovulation. With a favorable prognosis, there should not be a delay in menstruation, although it can move slightly, which will not affect the cycle as a whole. Usually, after such a procedure, a woman spends several hours in a hospital, and as soon as she gets better, she can go home. Next, the gynecologist will recommend the patient to do an ultrasound after 1 month, then after 3 and 6 months.