Modern gynecology uses a lot of ways to study the female body. During life, every representative of the weaker sex has to undergo manipulations such as ultrasound and gynecological examination. A deeper diagnosis can be carried out using operations such as office hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, hysterosalpingography, and so on. In today's article we will talk about one of them. You will learn what an office hysteroscopy is and how it is performed. It is worth mentioning the indications for the study and the cases when it should be abandoned.
What is office hysteroscopy of the uterus?
This is an examination of the reproductive organ, which is performed in the doctor's office. Manipulation does not require prior anesthesia. However, tests are required.
Office hysteroscopy involves the use of a thin hysteroscope tube. The introduction of such a device is painless, it does not require the expansion of the cervical canal. Manipulation is very rarely performed in Russian clinics. Abroad, this diagnosis is more common.
Indications for the procedure
Office hysteroscopy involves the study of the inner mucous layer of the uterus. Many women mistakenly believe that they have no indications for this manipulation. But every third representative of the weaker sex needs this intervention.
Office hysteroscopy differs from conventional diagnostic hysteroscopy in that it cannot be converted into a medical one. In the gynecologist's office, there are not always devices and preparations for such manipulations. Despite this, the operation is considered necessary and useful. Indications for carrying out will be the following situations:
- incomprehensible breakthrough bleeding from the genital tract;
- frequent pain in the lower abdomen;
- menstrual irregularities;
- preparation for in vitro fertilization or cases of its failure;
- infertility;
- control after abortion, cancer treatment, inflammation;
- neoplasms (polyps, fibroids, cysts) and so on.
Limitations: what every patient needs to know
Not all women can carry out this manipulation. There are a number of contraindications. Before the appointment of the study, the doctor must exclude them. Ignoring these leads to unpleasant consequences. So, it is forbidden to carry out office hysteroscopy in the following cases:
- inflammation of the genital organs (adnexitis, metritis, salpingitis);
- diseases of the vagina (vaginosis, colpitis, candidiasis);
- acute viral and bacterial pathologies (influenza, SARS);
- fever of unknown origin;
- 3 and 4 vaginal cleanliness;
- severe diseases of the liver, kidneys and cardiovascular system;
- uterine bleeding of unknown origin;
- pregnancy.
Diagnostic and therapeutic hysteroscopy, which involves the expansion of the cervical canal, is not performed for cervical cancer and stenosis. However, office research is acceptable in these situations. You just need to properly prepare for it.
Preparation for the study: tests
What preparation does an office hysteroscopy involve? Moscow is filled with many private clinics, in which the study involves only half an hour of preparation. If you contact them, then experienced doctors will quickly take the necessary tests and after a short time you can already start the study (if you get good results). If you apply to government agencies, it will take about 2-3 days to prepare. It includes the following studies:
- blood test for Rh, clotting and infections;
- smear to determine the flora and purity of the vagina;
- ultrasound examination of the uterus;
- gynecological examination and patient interview.
Please note that in private clinics in Moscow and other cities you will have topay, while applying to government agencies does not involve any fees (except for the absence of documents from the patient).
How is diagnostic manipulation performed?
Office hysteroscopy of a polyp and other pathological conditions is performed in the doctor's office, you already know about this. The patient is located on the gynecological chair, as for a standard examination. With the help of mirrors, the doctor expands the vaults of the vagina and disinfects the cervix.
Next, a thin hysteroscope tube is inserted. Preferably, this is controlled by ultrasound. But not all clinics practice this. Using the image displayed on the screen, the gynecologist examines the uterine cavity and, if necessary, notes its defects. After that, the tube is removed, and the woman can return to her business. The study continues for no more than 10 minutes.
Consequences of the procedure
After an office hysteroscopy, the patient can go home. There is no need to stay within the walls of a medical institution. However, if you feel unwell, it is better to stay under the supervision of doctors.
On the day of the manipulation, there may be pulling pains in the abdomen and slight spotting. This is not a pathology. Most likely, the doctor will prescribe you antispasmodics, which will help to cope with discomfort. After the study, it is recommended to refrain from sexual intercourse for several days. You should also take antimicrobialsformulations prescribed by a doctor to prevent an infectious process.
Negative effects of office hysteroscopy are very rare. But they do exist. These are perforation of the uterine wall, inflammation, bleeding, scarring of the cervix if it is damaged, and so on.
Office hysteroscopy: reviews
There is an erroneous opinion that this manipulation is very painful and is performed only under anesthesia. In fact, everything is far from it. Doctors say that office hysteroscopy does not involve the expansion of the cervical canal. This means that the woman will not feel pain. Patients who underwent the study claim that they felt slight discomfort in the lower abdomen. Unpleasant feelings persisted for several hours after the diagnosis. Therefore, it would be right to postpone all the activities planned for this day and stay at home.
Office hysteroscopy allows you to accurately diagnose without hospitalization and the use of anesthetics. Most often, the study is carried out about infertility or unsuccessful in vitro fertilization. Modern devices, equipped with the latest image screens, show a clear and precise picture of what is happening inside the uterus. Therefore, there can be no doubt about the correct diagnosis after such a study.
There are a few negative opinions about this study. Women say that after the manipulation they developed severe abdominal pain,unpleasant discharge with a strange smell. All this speaks of infection. Therefore, it is so important to follow all the rules for preparing for the study and take the necessary tests.
Summarize
From the presented article, you learned what office hysteroscopy is. Removal of a polyp found during diagnosis is usually scheduled after a few days. For this, a woman is hospitalized in the gynecology department and stays there from several hours to three days. Treatment of detected formations in the gynecologist's office through office hysteroscopy is not practiced. Perhaps in the near future such therapy will be carried out immediately (during office hysteroscopy). If you are assigned such a study, then do not worry and follow all the doctor's recommendations. Good results!
