Hi, I had a hysteroscopy with biopsies in may this year. It certainly wasn't a pleasant experience but it was bearable and over very quickly.

the hysteroscopy itself wasn't painful, more like mild cramp. I was offered a local anaesthetic for the biopsy but told it would take a wee while for it to take affect or I could just go ahead without it. I chose to go ahead. I was already lying there with camera inside etc and just wanted it over with so said just go for it.

I wish I had taken the local. I tolerated the biopsy pain without it but it was painful, over in a few seconds but the pain made me a bit nautious.

I would say my pain threshold is pretty decent and  I was ok but if I ever need it again I will take the offer of local.

Hope this helps a bit. The overall experience is fine it really is just the few seconds of biopsy that was yuck x

Some women seem to almost sail through it and other have much bigger problems. Can you ask for conscious / IV sedation? If you are worried or anxious about it, they should be able to offer you that. I had sedation with mine and don't remember a thing about it at all!

Good luck and I hope it all goes well.

Sorry to just jump on here but I'm having a hysteroscopy next week and I'm really nervous.  Already had a biopsy taken which was inconclusive.  Taking the biopsy was fine and I hardly felt any discomfort at all which I suppose I got lucky with the Dr.  He told me there's no anaesthetic or sedation used for hysteroscopy!  Is it worse than a biopsy?  I've read up some horror stories how it's terribly painful so that hasn't helped.  Anyone's experiences of the hysteroscopy would be useful to get prepared for what to expect.  As far as I'm aware they just want to have a look and take another biopsy.  Don't think anything else is being removed!  I'm 54 and had one post menopausal bleed. Uterine thickness 9mm.  Thanks a lot x

Can you ask to be asleep and a day case?

I had biopsies which were so so painful and then the hysteroscopy and more biopsies while I was asleep.

Why put ourselves through the pain if we can be asleep, I had really bad 'period style pain' when coming round so I imagine if I'd have been awake it would have been bad.

Hi

I had a hysteroscopcy over a year ago, like you I read loads of horror stories and was petrified of having it done. I would have had to wait longer if I wanted it under anesthetic and I just wanted to get it done.

(I'd had a biopsy about a month before it and found this painful)

I took valium before I went in and told them my worries about the pain. They were so lovely,  I had gas and air to use for the pain, yes it was a painful but nothing you can't handle, I did use the gas and air and found this did help but it was over pretty quick too. It's a bit worse than a biopsy, I think the worst part was the worry before.

Tell them your worries and they will prescribe you with some pain relief, I'd recommend gas and air too

Good luck

X

Hi I had a hysteroscopy last Wednesday under a GA as I read all the horror stories,you can request this if you want it.I was absolutely fine when I came round had some cramping which has stopped now just waiting on biopsy results.Good luck

Once I told them how nervous I was and how very needle-phoibic, I was offered the choice of Conscious (IV) sedation or a GA. I chose the former and it was fine. Don't remember a thing! I went in early morning and was out early afternoon. I see no reason why you cannot request this and push for it if you are really nervous.

Good luck!

Hi Giggsy,

Thanks so much for responding, that's really helpful.  I think I'll just accept it's going to be painful and get it done and over with.  Apparently taking paracetamol beforehand may help.  It really helps talking with people who are experiencing same.  I hope your outcomes were all good. x

Thats what I did, get it over and done with. Its honestly not that bad, stop googling the horror stories too, people only post if they have had a bad exerperience you never hear about all the ok experiences. Let us know how you get on 

I had hysteroscopies last year and a few weeks ago. I took painkillers an hour beforehand and breathed deeply during the procedure. I would describe it as very uncomfortable rather than painful. Last year she took a couple of biopsies which caused cramping ( the most uncomfortable part) and did a polypectomy which I honestly didn't feel. This month, the biopsies were more invasive as I have a thin lining and she was looking to suck up tissue from everywhere, but I accepted an offer of gas and air and sailed through it. A few years ago I had a hysteroscopy and polypectomy under general anaesthetic and not only was the longer wait more stressful but the recovery time was several days longer. The offer of gas and air was, however, on the strict condition I had somebody to drive me home which I did.