Hi kateJ - when you say 7 days post bleed - do you mean post the start of your bleed or post the end of your bleed? If the latter then you definitely do not need a hysteroscopy I would agree, and if the former well it's borderline. I've had a scan on what I thought was Day 7 (since start of bleed) and had lining of over 7 mm which sonographer said was normal - no action (last year). By contrast a few years ago i had a scan a little later in my cycle and was 7.4 mm and despite my saying I was on cyclical HRT the gynae insisted on referring me for hysterosocopy - mainly because a small abnormaility was noted (turned out to be a small fibroid).
A friend on another forum sees a private consultant and her lining is never less than approx 7 mm post bleed and her gynae is quite happy with that (she has them done annually) for the very reasons you say and those studies that have been done.
Also to give a contrasting view with my experience of hysteroscopy. Mine was offered either at a small local hospital where they only did them under GA or larger city hospital where I had the choice. Having never had a GA there was no way I was going to have a GA for what I saw as a small investigative procedure - saving that for if/when I needed an op of some sort. I wasn't worried about it at all. The instructions were to take two paracetamol and two ibuprofen an hour before the time of the appt which I did and I did not feel the hysteroscopy at all and barely felt the biopsy ( just a tiny pinch). It was done expertly by an experienced ?consultant or registrar and I wouldn't hesitate to have it done again.
I agree I would question in more detail but if nothing abnormal has been noted on the scan (TVS) then maybe not needed with a thickness so low, as you say. It is frustrating when even the experts disagree! In addition if you hasve been using less progesterone than recommended this could be the reason for the slightly thicker lining which should reduce - but perhaps your gynaes are offering this precisely because you have been taking insufficient - just to make sure all is OK as there is an increased risk of endometrial hyperplasia with less than recommended progesterone dosage.
Hurdity x
Thank you for this Hurdity, and to everyone who took the time to read and respond.
I just thought I would update everyone.
It is exactly as you said, Hurdity: 'It is frustrating when even the experts disagree!'
I had a follow up appointment today( brought forward by at least a month because of my email to them) at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital with a consultant nurse who knew my name but nothing else about me or my case as I sat down. Very frustrating to say the least. Then, after my detailed explanation as to why i was there, she then agreed that there was nothing to worry about regarding the endometrium and discharged me back to my GP! And despite me asking why the Dr I had originally seen had recommended a hysteroscopy, she could offer no explanation.
I am obviously relieved and happy that they now think that I don't need a hysteroscopy, but frustrated at the nurse for not knowing anything about my case as I sat down in front of her. And I think it terrible that there are such inconsistent opinions about the need for hysteroscopies in the gynaecological field. I am also concerned that she didn't think it necessary to monitor my endometrium further.
The NHS is fantastic on the whole, but this falls a little short of best practice.
I think we just need to have confidence to ask more questions; it is after all. our bodies.