Hysteroscopy
What is Hysteroscopy?
Hysteroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a thin, lighted telescope-like device (hysteroscope) to examine the inside of the uterus, diagnose abnormalities, or perform surgical interventions. It is often used to investigate abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, or to remove growths like polyps. In India, hysteroscopy is performed in obstetrics and gynecology departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, offering advanced care at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) is essential for patients in India to make informed decisions.
Why do you need Hysteroscopy?
Hysteroscopy is indicated for:
- Diagnostic purposes:
- Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB): Heavy, irregular, or postmenopausal bleeding.
- Infertility evaluation: Assesses uterine cavity for abnormalities affecting implantation.
- Recurrent miscarriages: Identifies structural issues (e.g., septum, adhesions).
- Suspected endometrial pathology: Polyps, fibroids, hyperplasia, or cancer.
- Lost intrauterine device (IUD): Locates and removes displaced IUDs.
- Therapeutic purposes:
- Polypectomy: Removal of endometrial polyps.
- Myomectomy: Removal of submucosal fibroids (small, inside the uterine cavity).
- Endometrial ablation: Destroys the lining to treat heavy bleeding (see prior section on ablation).
- Septum resection: Corrects a uterine septum (congenital divider in the uterus).
- Adhesiolysis: Removes intrauterine adhesions (Asherman’s syndrome) causing infertility or amenorrhea.
- IUD removal: For embedded or displaced devices.
The procedure aims to diagnose uterine abnormalities or treat conditions causing bleeding, infertility, or pain, with minimal invasiveness compared to open surgery.
Why Do Hysteroscopy Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹20,000 to ₹1 lakh :
- Procedure Type: Diagnostic (₹20,000–₹40,000); operative (₹40,000–₹1 lakh, e.g., polypectomy, myomectomy).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS, ₹5,000–₹20,000).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced gynecologists charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹5,000–₹15,000), hospital stay (if overnight, ₹5,000–₹15,000), pathology (₹2,000–₹5,000).
- Insurance: Covered for AUB, infertility, or structural abnormalities; confirm with your provider.
Hysteroscopy Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
- Ultrasound (transvaginal): Identifies suspected abnormalities (e.g., polyps, fibroids).
- Endometrial biopsy (if AUB): Rules out cancer or hyperplasia.
- Blood tests: Checks hemoglobin (for anemia), clotting profile, and pregnancy status (procedure contraindicated in pregnancy).
- Medications: Misoprostol (sometimes) to soften the cervix; antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline) to prevent infection.
- Consent: Risks, including uterine perforation, are explained.
- Diagnosis:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Diagnostic Hysteroscopy:
- Performed under local anesthesia, sedation, or no anesthesia (office setting), lasting 5–15 minutes.
- The patient is in the lithotomy position (legs in stirrups).
- A speculum exposes the cervix; the vagina is cleaned with antiseptic.
- The hysteroscope (3–5 mm diameter) is inserted through the cervix into the uterus.
- Saline or CO2 gas distends the uterine cavity for visualization.
- The endometrial cavity, tubal openings, and any abnormalities are inspected.
- Operative Hysteroscopy:
- Performed under general or spinal anesthesia, lasting 15–45 minutes.
- A larger hysteroscope (7–9 mm) with operative channels is used.
- Instruments (e.g., scissors, graspers, resectoscope) remove polyps, fibroids, or adhesions.
- Resectoscope (with a wire loop) or morcellator (e.g., MyoSure) cuts and extracts tissue.
- Endometrial ablation (if indicated) may be performed concurrently.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Hysteroscope: Provides visualization (camera and light).
- Fluid management system: Monitors saline inflow/outflow to prevent fluid overload.
- Ultrasound (if needed): Guides complex cases (e.g., embedded IUD).
- Diagnostic Hysteroscopy:
- After Surgery:
- Observation: 1–2 hours (outpatient for diagnostic); 1-day stay for operative under general anesthesia.
- Pain management: Analgesics (e.g., ibuprofen) for cramping (1–2 days).
- Discharge: Light spotting or watery discharge for 1–2 weeks (from saline or tissue removal).
- Pathology report: Within 5–7 days (if tissue removed, e.g., polyps).
- Instructions: Avoid intercourse, tampons, or douching for 1–2 weeks to allow healing.
Recovery After Hysteroscopy
- Immediate Recovery: Same-day discharge (diagnostic); 1-day stay (operative under general anesthesia).
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain: Mild cramping or shoulder pain (from CO2 gas, if used) for 1–2 days, managed with analgesics.
- Bleeding: Light spotting or discharge for 1–2 weeks; heavy bleeding is abnormal.
- Activity: Light activities the next day; avoid heavy lifting, intercourse, or tampons for 1–2 weeks.
- Hygiene: Showering allowed; avoid douching or tubs for 1–2 weeks.
- Monitoring: Watch for signs of infection (e.g., fever, foul-smelling discharge).
- Diet: Normal diet; 2–3 liters water daily; high-fiber foods (e.g., fruits) to prevent constipation.
- Follow-Up:
- Visit at 1–2 weeks to check recovery; 4–6 weeks for results discussion (if tissue removed).
- Repeat hysteroscopy (if needed) for persistent symptoms or incomplete treatment.
Most resume normal activities in 1–3 days (diagnostic) or 3–5 days (operative); full recovery takes 1–2 weeks. Success rates: 90–95% for diagnosis; 80–90% for therapeutic outcomes (e.g., polypectomy improves bleeding or fertility).
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Bleeding (1–3%): Usually mild; <1% need intervention (e.g., balloon tamponade).
- Infection (1–2%): Endometritis or pelvic infection; treated with antibiotics.
- Uterine perforation (0.5–1%): Hysteroscope punctures the uterus; may need laparoscopy to repair.
- Procedure-Specific:
- Fluid overload (0.5–2%): From saline absorption (operative); causes hyponatremia or pulmonary edema; managed with diuretics.
- Gas embolism (rare, <0.1%): If CO2 used; can be serious but extremely rare.
- Long-Term:
- Adhesions (1–3%, operative): Intrauterine scarring (Asherman’s syndrome), causing infertility or amenorrhea; may need repeat hysteroscopy.
- Incomplete treatment (5–10%): Persistent symptoms (e.g., bleeding) if polyps/fibroids not fully removed.
- Cervical stenosis (rare, <1%): Narrowing of the cervix, causing painful periods.
- Fertility: Minimal impact (diagnostic); operative may improve fertility (e.g., after polypectomy) but carries adhesion risk.
Report fever, severe pain, heavy bleeding, or difficulty urinating promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What conditions does hysteroscopy diagnose or treat?
AUB, infertility, recurrent miscarriages, polyps, fibroids, adhesions, or lost IUDs.
Is hysteroscopy painful?
Diagnostic: Mild discomfort (cervical dilation); operative: Performed under anesthesia, with mild cramping post-procedure for 1–2 days.
Can I avoid hysteroscopy?
For AUB: Ultrasound/biopsy may suffice for diagnosis; for infertility: Ultrasound or hysterosalpingogram (HSG) can screen. Therapeutic cases (e.g., polyps) often require hysteroscopy.
How soon can I resume activities?
Light activities the next day; normal routines (including intercourse) after 1–2 weeks.
Is hysteroscopy covered by insurance in India?
Yes, for AUB, infertility, or structural abnormalities; confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Fever, severe pain, heavy bleeding, or foul-smelling discharge.
Will hysteroscopy affect my fertility?
Diagnostic: No impact; operative: May improve fertility (e.g., polyp removal) but carries a 1–3% risk of adhesions.
Lifestyle changes post-procedure?
Avoid intercourse/tampons for 1–2 weeks, monitor for infection, attend follow-ups, and resume contraception (if desired) after recovery.
Conclusion
Hysteroscopy is a safe, effective procedure for diagnosing and treating uterine abnormalities, offering minimal invasiveness and quick recovery. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable, expert care. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach hysteroscopy confidently. Consult a gynecologist for personalized guidance and optimal outcomes.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Hysteroscopy
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Ahmedabad |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Ajmer |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Aligarh |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Allahabad |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Amritsar |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Aurangabad |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Bangalore |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Bareilly |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Belgaum |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Bhopal |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Bikaner |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Chandigarh |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Chennai |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Coimbatore |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Dehradun |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Delhi |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Dhanbad |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Durgapur |
20,000 |
20,000 |
Faridabad |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Ghaziabad |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Gorakhpur |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Guntur |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Gurgaon |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Guwahati |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Gwalior |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Hyderabad |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Indore |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Jabalpur |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Jaipur |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Jalandhar |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Jamshedpur |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Jodhpur |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Kanpur |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Kochi |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Kolkata |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Kollam |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Lucknow |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Ludhiana |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Madurai |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Mangalore |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Meerut |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Moradabad |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Mumbai |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Mysore |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Nagpur |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Nashik |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Noida |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Patna |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Pune |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Raipur |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Rajkot |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Ranchi |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Surat |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Thane |
25,000 |
80,000 |
Vadodara |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Varanasi |
20,000 |
70,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
22,000 |
75,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.