Hysteroscopy, Endometrial Biopsy

I've had this procedure 3 times. I've always had a general anaesthetic though due to other issues.

Hopefully someone will come soon to talk you through it. 

All I can say is that I was given paracetamol before each procedure and had codeine after one of them. But I didn't need anything after that. 

Hi Skye,

I was asked if I had had children vaginally, which I had! I gave birth twice, and had one late miscarriage. Coupled with a weak cervix, they had no trouble getting in there with me. Some ladies have had a general anaesthetic if there have been difficulties. I felt the painkillers made little difference and can remember one 'ouchy' moment. I could feel him snipping bits off for the biopsy, which was a bit bizarre, but my lining wasn't thick. You might not be able to feel that the same!!! I now know what my daughter meant when she had a Caesarean. She said it was like someone rummaging in a handbag, and that thought did make me giggle !!!

They will tell you to relax, easier said than done!! All the best xxxxx 

Heya, 

I've lost count of how many hysteroscopies I've had now, but there have been a few. I've never had a general anaesthetic for any of them, and I've never had kids. 

The best bit of advice really is the one to relax. Out of all my hysteroscopies, only one of them actually hurt rather than just being uncomfortable - and this was because of complications from something else, making everything in my abdomen swell.

So if you can relax everything from just below your boobs, all the way down to your toes, you'll make it easier and less likely to be painful. When you're tense and nervous, both of which are understandable in such a position, then your vagina tenses up. This means they def need to use the speculum, which can hurt, as it's pushing against what your muscles are wanting to do. Same for the cervix and womb. If things are tense then it's harder to manouvere, and your nerves are heightened and you're more likely to feel pain from the biopsy.

So just let those legs flop, sink into the chair, watch what's happening inside you on the TV or chat to the nurse while looking at the ceiling. Just do what you need to to try and relax, and it'll hopefully be over before you know it with nothing more than period pain. 

Lass

Xx

I never got the chance to take any painkillers as I didn't even know I was going to have the procedure!  I was given my first appointment with a gynaecologist at my local hospital (I'm in Spain so I'm sure things will be done differently in the UK).  I was asked had I given birth vaginally, which I had (once).  I was taken into the adjoining examination room where the doctor proceeded to do the hysteroscopy, followed by taking samples for biopsy.  The description of somebody rummaging in a handbag is very apt, that didn't hurt but was a strange sensation.  The sharp snips to take the samples were pretty painful (but only momentary), I winced audibly and made "ouch" noises at times, but I wouldn't say it was agonisingly painful.  I wish I'd been warned and I could have taken pankillers in advance though.