← All services · Women's health and pregnancy
Endometrial biopsy
endometrial biopsy · pipelle biopsy · uterine biopsy · womb lining sample
The doctor passes a thin, flexible tube through the cervix into the womb and takes a little tissue from its lining. No cuts, and usually no anesthesia.
For irregular periods, bleeding after menopause, infertility, or when an ultrasound shows a changed womb lining.
⏱ Duration: the procedure usually takes 5 to 15 minutes; results usually come in 1 to 2 weeks
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Cycle day. The cycle day depends on the purpose. Your doctor will say when to come.
- Test. Sometimes you are asked to take a pregnancy test before the procedure.
- Painkiller. Ask your doctor if you can take a painkiller an hour before.
What to bring
- Your referral
- Ultrasound results
- A pad
- Your ID
How it goes
- You sit in the gynecological chair
- The doctor inserts a speculum and cleans the cervix
- A thin, flexible tube is passed through the cervix into the womb
- Gentle suction draws up some tissue. It takes a few seconds
- The tube is removed, and the tissue is sent to the lab
What you'll feel
- A strong cramp, like a painful period, usually brief
- Sometimes dizziness or nausea. Tell the doctor
- Afterward, cramping for a few hours
Afterwards
- Light bleeding, usually for 1 to 2 days
- No sex, tampons, baths, or pools, usually for a few days. Your doctor will say exactly
- Your doctor will explain the result at your visit
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Bleeding like a heavy period
- A fever over 38°C (100.4°F), severe pain low in the belly, or bad-smelling discharge
Common questions
Does it hurt?
You feel a sharp cramp, like a painful period. It is brief, usually under a minute.
How is this different from a D&C?
It is simpler: no anesthesia, no widening of the cervix, just a thin tube.