title: Acceptability and pain of outpatient hysteroscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the pain and acceptability of diagnostic hysteroscopy performed without local anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).
  
  
  METHODS
  University-associated department of obstetrics and gynecology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 1144 consecutive women who underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy as indicated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were asked to rate the pain experienced on a 10-cm visual analog scale and to state if they were willing to repeat the procedure. The mean pain score was 4.7 +/- 2.5; 398 patients (34.8%) experienced severe pain. No risk factors for painful hysteroscopy were found, although abnormality of the cervical canal was associated with high pain scores. Acceptance of the procedure was high, 83.0% (950 women).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnostic hysteroscopy is a painful procedure even when performed with atraumatic technique by experienced surgeons. Most women, however, stated they were willing to have a second procedure under the same conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universitá di Bologna, via Massarenti 13, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Iaco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marabini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefanetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bovicelli
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis