Hysteroscopy

What a hysteroscopy involves

The NHS describes it as “a test to look inside a woman's womb, using a thin tube with a small camera inside it.” It adds that “Sometimes a sample of tissue ( biopsy ) is taken during a hysteroscopy, or fibroids and polyps are removed.”

The UK fertility regulator, the HFEA, describes what it looks for in fertility care: “Hysteroscopy: this inspects the cavity of the uterus to see if there are any fibroids, adhesions or developmental malformations like a septum (wall dividing the cavity of the uterus), all of which may prevent the embryo from implanting.”

It also describes treatment done the same way: “Hysteroscopic surgery – tissue growths (polyps), of the endometrium and submucosal fibroids (see above) can be removed using a small telescope put through the cervix.”

When it is used

The NHS lists the health issues a hysteroscopy can help diagnose or treat, among them “fibroids or small growths (polyps)” and “problems getting pregnant or repeated miscarriages”. Whether it is appropriate in a particular case is a clinical decision for the treating doctor. This directory does not make that judgement.

Pain, and what the NHS says about complications

The NHS is direct about discomfort: “Having a hysteroscopy can be uncomfortable and may feel like period pain.” and “However, for many people a hysteroscopy can be very painful. If you're worried about pain, or have questions about pain relief, you may want to speak to staff at the hospital or clinic before the day of your hysteroscopy.”

On complications, it says “Most hysteroscopies are quick and safe, without any problems. But like any procedure there's a small chance that something can go wrong.” and “It happens rarely, but there's a risk of:”

• “developing an infection afterwards – this can be treated with antibiotics”
• “making a small hole in the wall of the womb when removing a polyp”

A related procedure that looks around the womb, tubes and ovaries rather than inside the womb is covered on the laparoscopy page.

Each clinic below shows the level the national ART registry records for it, so you can see what else the clinic is registered to do. The level describes the clinic’s ART registration, not this procedure. Of the listings below, 126 are registered as Level 2, 23 as Level 1, and 59 have no level in the registry extract.