What is a hysteroscopy and a D & C?

I have had poly cystic ovaries since I was at least 13 (I am 31 now) and have been on and off (mostly off) with aldactone and birth control to treat it. I have rarely had a period except when I was on birth control. In the past year, I have been having alot of abnormal bleeding, long and heavy periods, followed shortly after by brief and/or slow flow periods. There is lots of clotting in the flow. I have been told by the gynecologist that I need to have a hysteroscopy and a d %26amp; c. This will supposedly be done under some sort of sedation and anasthesia, and they keep referring to it as "surgery." What exactly is a hysteroscopy and d %26amp; c? Will I be asleep the whole way through? Does it require an overnight stay? Shouldn't I be getting an ultrasound, first? Sorry to have to ask, but I've been to 2 gyns now and it seems that all doctors now are in a hurry and nobody seems to have the time to tell me anything or allow me ask me any questions. I'm scared!

What is a hysteroscopy and a D %26amp; C?
use this link to view what a hysteroscopy is. it shows everything there is to know about a hysteroscopy. including some pictures.


http://www.gynalternatives.com/hsc.htm





D and C is a procedure to scrape and collect the tissue (endometrium) from inside the uterus. Dilatation ("D") is a widening of the cervix to allow instruments into the uterus. Curettage ("C") is the scraping of the contents of the uterus. this is a link explaining all about it. it will answer any questions u may have


http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/...





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u r not getting a hysterectomy, as alice above me said. do not worry they are not removing ur uterus or overies. they are just having a look around and cleaning up any extra tissue that may be there. she must have missread the question. it wouldn't make any sence for them to do a hyserectomy at this point.
Reply:Dilation %26amp; Curratage (can't spell) They will take a scope and look in and basically "clean it out"
Reply:Look at this website
Reply:I find it odd that at 31 and with your constant female issues, you don't know what either of these procedures is.





"The dilation and curettage procedure is called a D%26amp;C. The D stands for dilation, which means enlarging. Curettage (the C) means scraping. Together, this procedure involves expanding or enlarging the entrance of a woman’s uterus so that a thin, sharp instrument can scrape or suction away the lining of the uterus and take tissue samples."





"Hysteroscopy uses a hysteroscope, which is a thin telescope that is inserted through the cervix into the uterus."





There's much more info at each of the links below. Do some reading so you'll be informed.
Reply:First of all if the doctor isn't telling you anything or explaining your questions there is a big problem! A GOOD doctor will answer your questions. If your doctor's aren't answering your questions than maybe you aren't asking anything, and should be, or they really are not being very attentive to you.


I actually changed my doctor because of that and ended up having to have minor surgery for a problem I never even knew I had when the new doctor found it!


Secondly, A hysterectomy is when your ovaries, and uterus is removed. Based on what you have described it sounds like something that is probably necessary. Yes it is surgery, and a serious one at that. You will be asleep for the whole thing and have a long recovery time. You will probably be in the hospital for a week or so.


I'm honestly not sure what a D and C is, but I have heard of it being done on women who are having a hysterectomy. Based on what you have shared here though I am not sure I would want either of these doctors to do it if they aren't talking to you and explaining things! Then again, if you aren't asking questions perhaps they assume you know!
Reply:a hysteroscopy is when they put a camera in there, a D%26amp;C is when they do a serios cleaning and irrigation in you