The journey towards having a baby and completing a family is not a smooth ride for every couple. While some women may be able to conceive quickly, others can find the path slightly difficult. Infertility is becoming an increasingly common problem today. While the reasons may be many, finding the root cause is necessary as well as challenging. Hysteroscopy for infertility is one of the common ways to identify infertility problems in women
Hysteroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that can be done with or without anaesthesia depending on the condition of the woman trying to get pregnant. It helps identify anomalies in the reproductive system and identify the cause of infertility as well as miscarriages. In this article, we discuss the basics of hysteroscopy and the various aspects involved in the process.
In This Article
- What is Hysteroscopy?
- What is Hysteroscope?
- Why do You Need to Undergo This Procedure?
- Does Hysteroscopy Improve Fertility?
- How to Prepare For the Hysteroscopy Procedure?
- What Happens During the Procedure?
- What to Expect After the Procedure?
- Effectiveness of Hysteroscopy in Increasing the Chances of Conception
- What Are the Possible Risks and Complications?
- Menstrual Cycle After Hysteroscopy
What is Hysteroscopy?
Hysteroscopy is a medical diagnosis and treatment procedure by which a doctor will examine the cervix and uterus of a woman by inserting a medical tool known as a hysteroscope in the vagina. Hysteroscopy has shown effectiveness in not only diagnosing infertility cases but also in curing them. Diagnostic Hysteroscopy is performed to diagnose the issues in the uterus. At the same time, to correct the issues, operational hysteroscopy is performed
What is Hysteroscope?
A hysteroscope is an instrument with an integrated camera and light. This tool is quite narrow in shape and helps the doctors to examine the vagina visually by inserting in it and see whether there is an issue with the ix and uterine cavity. A projection is made from the camera images. With the help of this projection, the doctor will search for the complications and decides what sort of actions need to be taken.
Why do You Need to Undergo This Procedure?
Your doctor might ask you to go for hysteroscopy if you are experiencing:
- Uterine bleeding
- Bleeding between menstruation
- Prolonged bleeding and severe cramping during periods
- Abnormal results in pap smear tests
- Bleeding post menopause
- Require to remove the endometrial lining
- To scrutinize and remove the fibroids, polyps
- Require to remove small biopsy tissue
- If in need of inserting IUD in the fallopian tube
- To execute sterilization by blocking the fallopian tubes
[Read : Can Painful Periods Affect Your Ability To Get Pregnant?]
Does Hysteroscopy Improve Fertility?
Whether hysteroscopy improves the cases of infertility or not is still a debating topic. There is no enough evidence to back this. More studies are needed in this field to recommend hysteroscopy as a fertility-enhancing procedure. However, by means of hysteroscopy, polyps and other uterine cavity abnormalities can be removed. Therefore, women with unexplained infertility may increase their probability of becoming pregnant when they undergo this procedure.
How to Prepare For the Hysteroscopy Procedure?
The whole procedure of hysteroscopy will be explained to you by your doctor. If you are any allergies or bleeding problems, then you should inform that your doctor before undergoing this procedure. Likewise, if you are under some medications, that should also be informed to your doctor. Hiding anything from your doctor will be a foolish act. Your doctor will first check your health condition and then decide whether you can have this procedure or not. You have to dress in comfortable attire. You should bring someone with you because you will feel exhausted and, therefore, might have trouble going back home.
What Happens During the Procedure?
Generally, you will be allowed to return home on the day of performing hysteroscopy. However, if your doctor thinks that you should stay back, then you should do that. These are the following procedures of hysteroscopy:
- Wear hospital clothes.
- The staff of the hospital will ask you to empty your bladder before the procedure begins.
- You will lie down on the back with your legs being wide open.
- The doctor will apply antiseptic to clean your vagina and put an IV.
- Once the vagina gets dilated, the doctor will insert the hysteroscope.
- For a proper view, the doctor might expand your uterus by pushing some sort of liquid or gas through the hysteroscope.
- The doctor will capture the picture to analyze the problem in cervix or uterus.
- If there is a need to perform any corrective measure, then the doctor will perform it through the hysteroscope.
- After the procedure ends, the doctor will remove the hysteroscope from your vagina.
What to Expect After the Procedure?
After the end of the procedure, you could be allowed to return home unless your doctor thinks otherwise. If you were given anesthesia, then your doctor might ask you to stay back as he or she would want to check your heart rate before leasing you. You will have mild cramps and might face some bleeding after this procedure. You should stay away from sexual intercourse for at least two weeks to allow your body some time to recover.
[Read : Pregnancy After Endometrial Ablation]
Effectiveness of Hysteroscopy in Increasing the Chances of Conception
With hysteroscopy, you will eliminate the possible causes of infertility, and because of that, it could enhance your chance of getting pregnant. However, there is very little scientific evidence that could prove its efficacy.
What Are the Possible Risks and Complications?
Mostly, hysteroscopy is a safe medical procedure. However, at times, one could see some complications arising from this procedure. These complications are:
1. Infections
As the hysteroscope passes through the vagina, it carries a lot of bacteria, which could result in infections.
2. Too Much Bleeding
Hysteroscopy is one such procedure that can cause too much bleeding as well.
3. Overload of the Fluid
Saline water is inserted to stretch the uterus, and if it is not absorbed in the body, then it could cause life-threatening complications.
4. Uterine Perforation
A hole in the uterus or uterine perforation could happen due to hysteroscopy. If it happens, then your doctor will have to perform corrective measures.
5. Damage to Internal Organs
If uterine perforation happens due to hysteroscopy, then it could damage the internal organs as well. If it is left undetected for a long time, it can cause internal bleeding.
Menstrual Cycle After Hysteroscopy
Hysteroscopy will certainly affect the menstrual cycle. It might get delayed or might start earlier. On could also expect heavy bleeding during the menstrual cycle after hysteroscopy. Also, the cycle could be longer than normal. As all women have a different reaction to hysteroscopy, they might experience difference menstrual cycles.
The efficacy of hysteroscopy is yet to be proven. Nonetheless, if you want to have hysteroscopy, then you should consult your doctor to understand the procedure and the options you have.
Read Also: D and C Surgery Procedure, Side Effects and Recovery
