Our surgeons perform a hysteroscopy to diagnose and treat uterine problems
The word hysteroscopy may sound intimidating, but it’s a minimally invasive gynecological surgery that our OBGYNs usually perform in the office. They perform the procedure vaginally, so there are no abdominal scars or stitches. Hysteroscopies are excellent tools for diagnosing and treating abnormal uterine bleeding and other uterine problems.
Our OBGYNs recommend hysteroscopies for several reasons
When the physicians at Athens OBGYN perform a hysteroscopy, often they can both diagnose and treat a problem at the same time. Our team may recommend this minor surgery if a patient has any of the following problems.
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Spotting between periods
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Spotting or bleeding after menopause
They also perform the procedure for the following reasons.
- Detect uterine abnormalities
- Locate and remove fibroids and polyps
- Remove uterine adhesions, or scar tissues
- Diagnose issues with the uterine lining
- Discover uterine issues that may cause repeated miscarriages
- Obtain a biopsy
- Treat a uterine septum
How do our OBGYNs perform the procedure?
Our team schedules hysteroscopies when patients are not menstruating. For this procedure, the patient comes into our office, or sometimes, to the hospital. Our team administers anesthesia before the surgery starts. Our OBGYN inserts a speculum into the woman’s vagina, followed by the hysteroscope. This is a very thin, telescopic, lighted device that sends an image of the patient’s uterus to a screen.
Our surgeon inserts either carbon dioxide gas or saline through the hysteroscope to expand the uterus and provide a better view. Once our surgeons diagnose a problem, they can insert other instruments into the uterus to treat the issue.
After the hysteroscopy, patients go home the same day. They may have cramps similar to menstrual cramps, or vaginal bleeding for a couple of days. It’s also normal to have a watery vaginal discharge for days or several weeks after the procedure. Most women return to work and daily life in one to two days.
A hysteroscopy is a safe procedure that treats uterine problems with minimal risks
Hysteroscopies are a good way for our surgeons to diagnose and treat uterine problems with one minor surgery, instead of two or more separate procedures. This minimally invasive surgery has a lower risk of infection, less blood loss, less pain and a quicker recovery than traditional surgeries.
Even though hysteroscopies are precise and safe procedures, there are minimal risks with any surgery, which can occur in less than 1% of all patients. These include infection, intrauterine scarring and heavy bleeding. In very few cases, patients may also experience a reaction to the anesthesia or have cervical, uterine, bladder or bowel injuries.
The physicians at Athens OBGYN expertly perform minimally invasive gynecologic procedures
A hysteroscopy is one of the many minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries our OBGYNs perform regularly. Their knowledge, training and expertise make these procedures much less risky than traditional surgery. Patients who have uterine issues or other problems should contact us for an appointment.