Why uterus biopsy

Then, using suction, a small amount of endometrium is removed through the tube. The suctioning takes about a minute or less. The discomfort is a lot like menstrual cramps and can be helped by taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen before the procedure. Sometimes a thin needle is used to inject numbing medicine local anesthetic into the cervix just before the procedure to help reduce the pain. To get a better view of the inside lining of the uterus, the uterus is filled with salt water saline.

This lets the doctor look for and biopsy anything abnormal, such as a cancer or a polyp. This is usually done using a local anesthesia numbing medicine while the patient is awake. In this outpatient procedure, the opening of the cervix is enlarged dilated and a special instrument is used to scrape tissue from inside the uterus.

This may be done with or without a hysteroscopy. This procedure takes about an hour and may require general anesthesia where drugs are used to put you into a deep sleep or conscious sedation drugs are put into a vein to make you drowsy either with local anesthesia injected into the cervix or a spinal or epidural.

Most women have little discomfort after this procedure. If cancer is found, the lab report will state what type of endometrial cancer it is like endometrioid or clear cell and what grade it is.

Endometrial cancer is graded on a scale of 1 to 3 based on how much it looks like normal endometrium. See What Is Endometrial Cancer? Women with lower grade cancers are less likely to have cancer in other part of their body and are less likely to have the cancer come back after treatment recur.

If the doctor suspects hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer HNPCC as an underlying cause of the endometrial cancer, the tumor cells can be tested for protein and gene changes. If the doctor suspects that your cancer is advanced, you'll probably have to have other tests to look for cancer spread.

A plain x-ray of your chest may be done to see if cancer has spread to your lungs. The CT scan is an x-ray procedure that creates detailed, cross-sectional images of the inside of your body.

For a CT scan, you lie on a table while X-rays are done. Read the form carefully and ask questions if something is not clear. However, your healthcare provider may advise you to take a pain reliever 30 minutes before the procedure. Tell your healthcare provider if you are sensitive to or are allergic to any medicines, iodine, latex, tape, or anesthesia.

Tell your healthcare provider of all medicines prescription and over-the-counter and herbal supplements that you are taking. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of bleeding disorders or if you are taking any blood-thinning medicines anticoagulants , aspirin, or other medicines that affect blood clotting. You may be told to stop these medicines before the procedure. Your healthcare provider may ask you to keep a record of your menstrual cycles. You may need to schedule the procedure for a specific time of your cycle.

If your provider gives you a sedative before the procedure, you will need someone to drive you home afterwards. You may want to bring a sanitary napkin to wear home after the procedure. Based on your condition, your healthcare provider may call for other preparation. What happens during an endometrial biopsy? Generally, an endometrial biopsy follows this process: You will be asked to undress fully or from the waist down and put on a hospital gown. You will be told to empty your bladder before the procedure.

You will lie on an exam table, with your feet and legs supported as for a pelvic exam. Your healthcare provider will insert an instrument called a speculum into your vagina to spread the walls of the vagina apart to view the cervix. Your provider will clean your cervix with an antiseptic solution.

Infection following the procedure is uncommon but report any complaints that would suggest an infection, such as pain in the lower abdomen or vagina, or a foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for a few days following the procedure to prevent infection. Please do not place anything in your vagina and avoid sex intercourse for one week following the procedure. A nurse will call you with the report of the tests done on the tissue removed from your uterus.

You may be asked to take hormones if abnormal cells are detected. Your doctor will talk to you about the best treatment strategy for you when you return to the office for a follow-up visit in a few weeks.

Already a member or subscriber? Log in. Interested in AAFP membership? Learn more. This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. Call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:.

An endometrial biopsy is normal when no abnormal cells or cancer is found. Results are considered abnormal when:. Endometritis is an inflammatory condition of the lining of the uterus, usually due to an infection. We'll explain what puts you at risk and what to do. Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue similar to that which forms the lining of your uterus grows outside of your uterine cavity.

The lining is…. Some symptoms are easy to identify as potentially serious health problems. Chest pain, high fever, and bleeding are all typically signs that something…. Many women experience occasional ovary pain.

Although it's likely related to your menstrual cycle, it may be a sign of an underlying condition. Spotting is lighter than a period and may indicate that you have an underlying condition. Call your doctor if you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding. A pelvic exam is a visual and physical examination of a woman's reproductive organs.

Some women may experience side effects while taking the birth control pill.