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Has anyone had a Hysteroscopy biopsy vs a D&C for uterine biopsy?
Gynecologic Cancers | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (21)Comment receiving replies
This question has me concerned. I have had 4 "periods" in 2 months, some only last a couple of days, some last 8 days. I had a failed Biopsy in the office (she wouldn't continue because I was in so much pain), so she ordered a hysteroscopy under anesthesia. She did not say she would be doing a DNC. She also ordered a Vaginal ultrasound for a few days later. It's taken 2 months (I called for an appointment as soon as I started bleeding the first time) to get to this point. Should I be requesting a D&C to be more thorough?
Replies to "This question has me concerned. I have had 4 "periods" in 2 months, some only last..."
I don’t think it could hurt to ask why she isn’t doing it while she is in there.
My doctor ordered the ultrasound first as it shows how thick the vaginal lining is and if there are any abnormalities. The hysteroscopy inserts a camera into the uterus and an instrument is used to grab samples of the lining for biopsy, or removal of fibroids if they showed up on the ultrasound. A D&C would be more thorough because it removes any remaining tissue to ensure the entire lining is biopsied. I wanted both procedures done to be the most thorough.
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@liz1971 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect and to our Gynecological Cancers Support Group. Two months from when you first noticed the spotting is a long time. After I noticed spotting it took me two months to get from the initial exam in the doctor's office to an ultrasound and then to hysteroscopy and D&C. I would have liked that whole process to go more quickly but that did not seem possible at the time.
You mentioned that you had 4 "periods" in 2 months. May I ask your age and if you are post-menopausal?
From what I have read vaginal spotting of blood in a post-menopausal woman is not normal. It should be thoroughly investigated as the spotting could occur for different reasons but one of the reasons is a suspicion of uterine cancer. It sounds like your doctor did try to investigate by performing a biopsy in the office but was unable to continue because if your pain level.
Do you know the results of your vaginal ultrasound? Or is that ordered for after the hysteroscopy? From what I've seen here from other women in this group the sequence has been this: If a woman did not have an endometrial biopsy in the doctor's office then they have an ultrasound. If that shows something concerning the next step is often hysteroscopy and D&C.
Since you will be under anesthesia I am wondering if your doctor plans a biopsy with the hysteroscopy?. In order to biopsy the endometrial lining of the uterus a tissue sample is needed. You could ask your doctor if a D&C is planned along with the hysteroscopy.
Cleveland Clinic: Hysteroscopy (there is more information about a D&C at the bottom of this page).
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10142-hysteroscopy
Do you have any other questions?