You have been advised by your doctor or nurse to undergo an outpatient hysteroscopy. The purpose of this page is to tell you more about this procedure, why it is being done and what it involves.
A hysteroscopy is a minor surgical procedure that allows examination and sampling of the lining of the womb. The procedure can be performed by doctors or specially trained nurse hysteroscopists.
It involves gently advancing a very slim telescope through the vagina and cervix, and into the uterus (womb). This provides very clear pictures of the lining of the uterus. The operator may also take a biopsy (a small sample of tissue) for testing in a laboratory. It is also possible to remove small swellings inside the uterus called polyps or fibroids. Hysteroscopy may also be suggested to remove contraceptive devices from the uterus (if it is not possible to remove them with a normal examination) or to treat adhesions (scarring).
We commonly offer a hysteroscopy to women for reasons such as:
- To investigate abnormal vaginal bleeding.
- To remove abnormalities of the uterus like polyps, small fibroids or adhesions.
- As part of fertility investigations.
- To check for signs of cancer.
A hysteroscopy is generally very safe, but like any procedure there is a small risk of complications.
The main risks of undergoing a hysteroscopy are:
- Infection: signs of an infection after hysteroscopy include offensive vaginal discharge, a fever and abdominal pain. It can usually be treated with a short course of antibiotics.
- Accidental damage to the womb: this is uncommon, but may require treatment with antibiotics in hospital or another operation to repair it.
To prepare for your hysteroscopy procedure, we ask that you take painkillers.
Providing you have no allergies or intolerances to the following medication, please take paracetamol and ibuprofen one hour before your appointment time. You can buy these for yourself in supermarkets or pharmacies. You should follow the dose instructions on the back of the box.
You may eat and drink as normal before your appointment.
It is important to continue taking most regular medications before a hysteroscopy. However, if you are taking any type of blood thinning medication (such as Warfarin, Apixaban, Rivaroxiban or injections to thin your blood such as Enoxaparin) then please alert a member of your team when you receive your appointment letter, so we can discuss this further with you.
If you are on your period on the day of the procedure, we will not be able to carry out the hysteroscopy. This is because bleeding can interfere with our view of your uterus. If your suspect your period may be due on the day of your appointment, please contact the team caring for you (contact numbers at the end of this booklet) to arrange an alternative appointment.
It is very important that you are not pregnant when a hysteroscopy is carried out. If you are sexually active and have not gone through the menopause, you must use contraception from the period before your appointment. If there is any possibility you may be pregnant, please contact your team to discuss this further (contact numbers can be found at the end of this booklet).
Although an escort is not required for your procedure, we do allow a relative or friend to accompany you during your appointment and procedure should you wish.
We want to involve you in all the decisions about your care and treatment. If you decide to go ahead with treatment, by law we must ask for your consent and will ask you to sign a consent form. This confirms that you agree to have the procedure and understand what it involves. The doctor/nurse hysteroscopist will explain all the risks, benefits and alternatives, including having a hysteroscopy under anaesthesia, before they ask you to sign a consent form.
If you are unsure about any aspect of your proposed treatment, please don’t hesitate to speak with a senior member of staff again.
You will arrive at your given appointment time, where we may ask you for a urine sample to perform pregnancy test.
We are a training hospital and at times there might be trainees present during your procedure. We will always ask your permission for their attendance before we go ahead. There is a chance you will be seen by either a male or a female clinician. If you have any concerns about this, please speak to your nurse before your procedure.
Your procedure will take between 10-30 minutes to complete. Some women experience no pain at all during the procedure. However, most women experience strong period-like cramping. For some women, this pain is very intense, and we need to stop the procedure. It is important that you know that you are in control, and that if you ask us to stop the procedure, we will do. One member of the team will be by your side at all times, making sure that you can tell us if you want us to stop.
A hysteroscopy may be more painful and traumatic for you if you have previously experienced:
- Fainting during your menstrual period because of pain.
- Severe pain or anxiety during previous vaginal examinations, including undergoing cervical smears.
- Traumatic events, such as sexual violence.
Gas and air (entonox) is available throughout the procedure, if you are able to take it. However, this will not completely take away the physical discomfort you might experience.
After the procedure it is normal to experience some watery vaginal discharge or bleeding, for which you will need to wear a sanitary towel. It is common to experience light vaginal bleeding for 2-5 days.
To help avoid infection following your Hysteroscopy please:
- Use sanitary towels instead of tampons until your bleeding has completely stopped.
- Avoid sexual intercourse until your bleeding has completely stopped.
- Avoid swimming until your bleeding has completely stopped.
- Where possible, try to shower instead of bathing.
Signs of an infection include:
- Offensive vaginal discharge.
- Sharp abdominal pain.
- Raised temperature.
In some cases, antibiotics are prescribed to take following the procedure. Your doctor will talk to you about this if this applies to you. If you develop any signs of an infection, please contact your GP or local Emergency department if it is out of hours.
If a biopsy is taken or a polyp is removed, it will be sent to our histology laboratory where it will be tested for abnormalities.
We will write to you and your GP with any histology results after approximately two weeks.
If you do not wish to go ahead with an outpatient hysteroscopy, you can ask your referring clinician to talk to you about having this procedure under a general anaesthetic or sedation. You can also discuss the possibility of not having any treatment.
Outpatient Hysteroscopy is delivered by three different consultant teams within UCLH. Should you have any questions or would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact your named consultant team as detailed below. You can find your clinic code on your appointment letter.
Clinic Code DJ3HY Consultant: JURKOVIC
Gynaecology Outpatient Senior Nurse
(Monday – Friday)
020 3456 7890 Extension: 76515
OR
Clinic Code ES12C Consultant SARIDOGAN
Nurse Hysteroscopists
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday)
Hysteroscopy Clinical Nurse Specialists
020 3456 7890 Extension: 72611
OR
Clinic Code SK2HY Consultant KHANJANI
RMU Coordinator
Email: uclh.
Gynaecology Diagnostic Unit Clinic 3
Lower Ground Floor, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing, University College Hospital, 235 Euston Road, NW1 2BU
Page last updated: 24 January 2025
Review due: 01 January 2027