Hysteroscopy: How To Prepare

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How To Prepare

Tell your doctor if you:

• Are or might be pregnant.
• Are taking any medicines.
• Are allergic to any medicines.
• Have had bleeding problems or take blood-thinners, such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin).
• Have been treated for a vaginal, cervical, or pelvic infection in the past 6 weeks.
• Have any heart or lung problems.

It is best to have a hysteroscopy done when you are not having your menstrual period. If there is a chance that you could become pregnant, the hysteroscopy should be done before you are ovulating so your doctor is sure you are not pregnant.

Do not douche, use tampons, or use vaginal medicines for 24 hours before the hysteroscopy.

You may be given a medicine (sedative) to relax you for the test, or general, regional, or local anesthesia can be used. Your doctor will discuss this with you. If you are going to have general anesthesia, you will not be able to eat or drink for 8 hours before the test.

Arrange to have someone drive you home the day of the test in case you are given a sedative.

You will be asked to sign a consent form before the test. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?) .

The hospital or surgery center may send you instructions on how to get ready for your surgery, or a nurse may call you with instructions before your surgery.

Last updated:	February 22, 2008
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Liisa Honey, MD, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer