Rapid Access Hysteroscopy Clinic

The Rapid Access Hysteroscopy clinic offers hysteroscopy and limited surgical procedures in an outpatient setting without an anaesthetic.

We can investigate heavy menstrual bleeding, post-menopausal bleeding and remove endometrial polyps and retained intrauterine devices.

Service description

The Women’s new Rapid Access Hysteroscopy Clinic provides outpatient gynaecology procedures, including diagnostic hysteroscopy and removal of polyps and retained IUDs.

The Unit is within our new Day Procedure Centre on level 5 at the Women’s (Parkville).

In these procedures, the woman is awake with the total time taking approximately 45 min (the procedure itself usually only takes 5-10 minutes). Patients can leave the hospital immediately afterward.

The Unit can:

Investigate:

• heavy or irregular periods
• post-menopausal bleeding
• findings of a thickened endometrium.

Remove:

• endometrial or endo-cervical polyps < 2cm (cervical polyps are usually removed in a standard outpatient setting)

• difficult to remove intrauterine devices.

Exclusion criteria

The Rapid Access Hysteroscopy Clinic is not appropriate for women with the below circumstances:

• weight >120kg
• age <18 or >65
• who are likely to need laparoscopy (e.g. pelvic pain)  
• who have never been sexually active
• who have poor tolerance of speculum examination
• who have known cervical stenosis
• who have significant medical comorbidities.

The Clinic is not appropriate for the following:

• removal of endometrial or endo-cervical polyp > 2cm
• removal of cervical polyps only (usually removed in a standard outpatient setting)
• removal of fibroids
• insertion of IUCD only (refer instead to the Women's Abortion and contraception services)
• Investigation of subfertility and recurrent miscarriages (direct referrals not taken. Please refer to the Public Fertility Care Service or Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic).

Referral

This service is available for women for whom the Women's is their closest hospital with gynaecology services. 

GPs can refer directly to the Rapid Access Hysteroscopy Clinic (RAHC) by:

• completing a Fast Fax Referral form (available at Women’s Health and Gynaecology referrals) and faxing it to (03) 8345 3036
• including the information required to triage the woman and determine her suitability for this clinic, including presenting complaint and previous management, weight, and the mandatory pre-referral tests as relevant. GPs can attach this GP Referral Questionnaire to their referral.
• for guidance on mandatory referral information and tests by gynaecological condition, visit Women’s Health and Gynaecology referrals.

Expected wait time

The current estimated wait time is 4-6 weeks. Patients will have a telehealth consultation to confirm their suitability, prior to the procedure.

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