Contact hysteroscopy: a new technique to explore the uterine cavity.

Contact hysteroscopy is a new endoscopic technique that allows direct examination of the uterine cavity. The procedure is performed using ambient room light, which is collected by a special light trap incorporated into the body of the instrument. The mechanism for gathering and transmitting light eliminates the need for any electric connections whatsoever. The optical design enables the examiner to see the endocervix and endometrium even in the presence of bleeding. Neither gas nor liquid media are required for observations since the uterine cavity is not distended. An initial appraisal of 80 women with the contact hysteroscope proved successful from the standpoint of technical simplicity, diagnostic accuracy, and absence of complications.