A hysteroscopy is used to diagnose or treat problems inside your uterus or cervix. Examples of such problems are abnormal bleeding; abnormal growths, such as fibroids or polyps; abnormal shape of the uterus, or scar tissue in the uterus. It may be done to help discover the cause of infertility or miscarriages. It can be used to do get a sample of tissue from the uterus (a biopsy) to check for cancerous growth or remove an IUD.
Examples of alternative procedures that may be used to diagnose or treat problems in the uterus are:
an ultrasound scan, which is an exam with high-frequency sound waves
D&C (dilation and curettage), which is a procedure for opening the cervix and then scraping or suctioning tissue from the uterus.
a special type of X-ray, such as a hysterosalpingogram (putting dye into the uterus so it can be seen on an X-ray film)
CT scan or MRI
endometrial biopsy (the insertion of a tiny tube through the vagina and into the uterus to remove a sample of the inner layer of the uterine wall)
