Hysteroscopy

Before any surgery, you need to prepare. You'll be given instructions to follow. While there may be many things you need to do, let's review the basics.

Before you have surgery, you may be asked to wash your skin with a soap containing a chemical called CHG (chlorhexidine gluconate). This antiseptic eliminates many of the germs on your skin. It keeps your surgical site clean and free from infection. This video shows basic CHG showering directions. To get the full benefit, follow the directions for the specific soap you are asked to use.

This procedure uses a device called a "hysteroscope" to see and treat issues in your womb. With hysteroscopy, we can examine your womb to find the cause of abnormal bleeding or pregnancy issues. We can take tissue samples. We can treat or remove things like fibroids, polyps and scar tissue. And we can place or remove a birth control device.

After any surgery, you need some time to recover. Your recovery journey depends on your health and your surgery, of course. But let's learn about some of the things you can expect.

Because we all feel pain differently, managing it after surgery can be tricky. In the past, we focused mostly on medications. Often, these were opioids. But now, we use a mix of pain-fighting techniques. We call it the "multimodal" method. It deals with the whole body and the mind. And it can cut down on the need for opioids.