Hidoc Medical Reporter Jiyoung Lee, DirectorㅣSource: Hidoc
Anyone struggling with infertility has probably heard of hysteroscopic treatment at least once. Hysteroscope is an abbreviation for hysteroscopy. A camera and light source are attached to a thin, flexible tube that is inserted into the uterine cavity through the cervix. Because it is a medical device that allows both diagnosis and treatment while directly observing the inside of the uterus, it can be easily used not only for infertility but also for the treatment of uterine polyps or submucosal fibroids, which are a type of uterine fibroids that form in the endometrium.
A hysteroscope can minimize endometrial damage by observing the uterine lining in real time | Source: Choi Sang Obstetrics and Gynecology
Hysteroscopy and some procedures to diagnose infertility are also possible.
For patients with infertility, hysteroscopy is an important tool in identifying abnormalities in the endometrium and uterine cavity. This is because one of the causes of infertility may be abnormal conditions of the endometrium or lesions within the uterine cavity (endometrial adhesions, uterine malformations, polyps, fibroids, etc.).
Hysteroscopy can clearly identify structural problems within the uterus and, if necessary, can lead to surgical treatment. For example, endometrial adhesions or abnormal uterine structures can be immediately removed and corrected through a hysteroscope. Because these procedures are relatively simple to perform, hysteroscopy plays a very important role in the early stages of infertility treatment.
Hysteroscope in the treatment of uterine fibroids and uterine polyps
Among uterine fibroids, submucosal fibroids that appear in the endometrium are located just below the uterine lining (endometrium). Uterine fibroids are originally benign tumors that occur in the muscle layer of the uterus, and submucosal fibroids are characterized by protruding into the endometrium and growing into the uterine cavity. It can cause irregular bleeding, excessive menstruation, and interfere with implantation, creating problems of infertility.
Uterine polyps are small lumps or lumps that occur in the endometrium of the uterus. It is a disease in which the endometrium proliferates abnormally and protrudes into the uterus. Uterine polyps are usually benign, but in rare cases they have the potential to become malignant and can cause symptoms such as excessive menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, and infertility, so it is recommended to treat them as soon as the lesion is discovered.
If submucosal fibroids or uterine polyps, which are types of uterine fibroids, are discovered, the location and size of the lesion can be accurately confirmed using a hysteroscope and then removed using an excision tool. This process has the advantage of being simple and taking relatively little time compared to other surgeries. Because it is a minimally invasive method, bleeding is minimal and damage to the uterine wall is minimal, patients can expect a rapid recovery of uterine health.
Hysteroscopy: An important diagnostic and treatment tool for infertility and uterine diseases.
The hysteroscope is highly utilized as an important diagnostic and treatment tool for both infertile patients and patients with uterine diseases. In the treatment of infertility, abnormalities in the endometrium and uterine cavity can be diagnosed and, if necessary, corrected. In the treatment of uterine fibroids and uterine polyps, it is used as a key tool in minimally invasive procedures to accurately remove polyps.
In both cases, hysteroscopy is used as a safe and effective method as it can be expected to result in a rapid patient recovery and a high treatment success rate. Receiving a more accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment through hysteroscopy can also help you prepare for a healthy pregnancy.
Written by = Hidoc Medical Reporter Jiyoung Lee (obstetrician/gynecologist)
