An endometrial or pipelle biopsy is a procedure that involves removing a small amount of tissue from the endometrium, the uterine lining. Cell alterations caused by aberrant tissues or changes in hormone levels can be seen in this tissue sample. Your doctor can diagnose certain medical issues by taking a small sample of endometrial tissue. A biopsy can also be used to rule out uterine infections such as endometritis. An endometrial biopsy can be conducted without anesthesia at the doctor's office. The treatment usually takes about 10 minutes to complete.
You'll be given a robe or medical gown to wear before the pipelle biopsy. Your doctor will have you lie down on a table with your feet in stirrups in an exam room. After that, they perform a short pelvic exam. They also clean your cervix and vaginal area.
To keep your cervix stable during the pipelle biopsy, your doctor may use a clamp. The clamp may cause you to experience pressure or discomfort. A tiny, flexible tube called a pipelle is then inserted into the opening of your cervix and extended several inches into the uterus by your doctor. The next step is to move the pipelle back and forth to obtain a tissue sample from the uterine lining. It usually takes about 10 minutes to complete the treatment. The tissue sample is placed in fluid and shipped to a lab for analysis.
After the pipelle biopsy, you may experience some minor spotting or bleeding, so you'll be given a menstrual pad to use. Mild cramping is also to be expected. To reduce cramping, you may be able to take a pain killer but consult your doctor first. After an endometrial biopsy, don't use tampons or have sexual intercourse for many days. Your doctor may give you extra advice following the treatment, depending on your medical history.
An endometrial biopsy can be performed to detect uterine abnormalities with accuracy. It can also be used to rule out the presence of other diseases. A pipelle biopsy may be recommended by your doctor to determine the source of postmenopausal or excessive uterine bleeding, to monitor for endometrial cancer, to examine fertility, or to test your hormone therapy reaction. If you have a blood coagulation condition, acute pelvic reactive disease, an acute cervix or vaginal infection, cervical malignancy, cervical rigidity, or severe cervix constriction, an endometrial biopsy isn't recommended.