Managing Outpatient Hysteroscopy-associated Pain

Relieving Outpatient Hysteroscopy-associated Pain: What is the Most Effective Method?

Hysteroscopy is a reference diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in intrauterine pathologies, increasingly performed without general anesthesia. Pain is the most common reason for discontinuation of outpatient hysteroscopy (OH). There is no consensus on pain alleviation during OH. The aim was to compare the effectiveness of pain relief options during OH.

A prospective randomized trial (consent no.1072.6120.228.2021) includes women subjected to OH due to focal uterine lesion, abnormal uterine bleeding, or infertility. Women are randomly assigned to 3 arms - A: NSAID (ketoprofen 100 mg intravenously), B: A+infiltration anesthesia (20 ml 1% lidocaine), C: A+paracervical block (20 ml 1% lidocaine). Karl Storz 5.0 mm Bettocchi® operative sheath with 2.9 mm 30 degree telescope and 5 Fr working channel was used. Intensity of pain in numeric rating scale (NRS), intensity of cervical bleeding, frequency of vaso-vagal reaction, and frequency of abandoning/ limiting the procedure were compared.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age over 18
• indications for hysteroscopy: focal uterine lesion, abnormal uterine bleeding, or infertility

Exclusion Criteria:

• allergies to medications
• refusal to consent to the procedure or participation in the study