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How Much Does a Hysteroscopy Cost in Australia?
How Much Does a Hysteroscopy Cost in Australia?
Written by
Tina Sendin
Edited by
Andrew Kemp
Reviewed by
Andres GutierrezCompare Health Insurance Policies
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What is a hysteroscopy?
Long story short
Public surgery is free, but patience is the price
If you hold a Medicare card, a hysteroscopy in a public hospital costs you nothing. However, as an elective procedure, you will be placed on a waiting list that can stretch for months.
Going private offers speed and control
Going in as a private patient could give you control over your specialist and timing. But you would have to shell out a few hundred bucks – even with private health insurance.
Expect to pay around $350 out of pocket
Even with hospital cover, most patients face an out-of-pocket cost for the specialist. This is on top of any hospital excess your policy might have.
You need specific ‘Gynaecology’ cover
To claim benefits for a hysteroscopy in a private hospital, your policy must typically include the ‘Gynaecology’ clinical category. This is generally found on bronze and higher, but it could also be included on basic plus policies.
What is a hysteroscopy?
A hysteroscopy is a minor surgical procedure that allows a gynaecologist to look inside of the uterus (or womb) to diagnose and treat uterine problems.
A medical instrument called a speculum will be used to hold the vagina open, allowing the doctor to gently insert a thin, lighted tube with a camera (a hysteroscope) through the cervix and into the uterus.
Mentioning ‘speculum’ might be enough to make you wince, but if a hysteroscopy is a simple diagnostic procedure, then it’s usually only performed with a local anaesthetic. A general anaesthesia or sedation might be on the cards if an operative hysteroscopy is needed to treat an issue rather just diagnose it.
A hysteroscopy’s commonly used to investigate:
- irregular or heavy periods
- post-menopausal bleeding or unusual vaginal bleeding
- unexplained pelvic pain
- fibroids
- polyps
- recurrent miscarriages or difficulty falling pregnant.
You can have this quick medical procedure (generally lasting 10 to 30 minutes) as an outpatient or inpatient and can usually go home the same day.
Types of hysteroscopy
Diagnostic hysteroscopy
The doctor investigates the cause of your symptoms and checks for any abnormalities. A diagnostic hysteroscopy is performed to check for conditions such as an abnormality in the uterus (uterine septum), non-cancerous tumours (fibroids), and non-cancerous growths (polyps).
It’s sometimes performed in a specialist’s rooms with local anaesthetic, or in a hospital’s day surgery unit.
Operative hysteroscopy
If the doctor finds an issue during a diagnosis – such as polyps or fibroids – they can often treat it then and there. Surgical instruments are passed through the hysteroscope to treat scar tissue (intrauterine adhesions) or remove polyps and fibroids. The procedure can also remove an IUD.
An operative hysteroscopy procedure is almost always done in a hospital or day surgery clinic under local or general anaesthesia.
What’s the cost of a hysteroscopy in Australia?
The cost depends entirely on whether you choose to have your procedure in the public or private systems.
Does Medicare cover a hysteroscopy?
If you’re an Australian citizen or resident with appropriate Medicare entitlements, a hysteroscopy in a public hospital is bulk-billed. This means Medicare covers the entire cost of the surgeon, anaesthetist, and hospital stay.
The catch? You generally cannot choose your doctor, and you’ll be subject to public hospital waiting lists.
Does health insurance cover a hysteroscopy?
Going private means you can choose your specialist and avoid the public queue. But this also means having to pay a few hundred bucks in specialist costs.
Let’s have a look at 2023–24 data from the Australian Government’s Medical Costs Finder to find out how much private patients paid in out-of-pocket costs for a hysteroscopy.
Hysteroscopy costs in Australia
| Diagnostic hysteroscopy | Operative hysteroscopy | |
| Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) item number | 35630 | 35633 |
| Typical specialists’ fees | $1,100 | $1,300 |
| Medicare benefits | $380 | $430 |
| Insurer typically paid | $370 | $420 |
| Typical out-of-pocket cost | $350 | $390 |
| % of patients with an out-of-pocket cost | 74% | 77% |
Source: Medical Costs Finder – Diagnostic hysteroscopy; Hysteroscopy
Note: These are the amounts patients typically paid for these services, rounded to the nearest dollar. They do not include hospital payments such as excesses, co-payments, or other payments. These fees may vary depending on your situation. Not all patients had out-of-pocket costs; those who didn’t aren’t included in these figures. Data retrieved January 2026.
If you have private health insurance, your insurer and Medicare share the load:
- Medicare pays 75% of the MBS fee.
- Your health fund pays the remaining 25% of the MBS fee, plus the costs of your hospital accommodation and theatre fees (excluding your excess).
Are there other out-of-pocket costs for a hysteroscopy?
Yes. Even with hospital cover, you might need to pay some hospital fees. For instance, diagnostic hysteroscopy hospital costs can be around $1,000 while an operative procedure could cost around $1,300. Your private health insurance could pay some or all of these fees, so it’s important to check your policy.
You may also need to pay a hospital excess when going for a treatment or procedure. This is a separate, one-off fee you pay directly to the hospital when you go in for the procedure. It’s set when you take out your policy and can range from $250 to $750 for singles, and up to $1,500 for family cover. You can choose the amount – the higher the excess, the lower the premiums (and vice-versa) – but it’s worth making sure you can afford it should you be admitted.
And while a hysteroscopy is a day procedure, you may need an overnight stay if you feel unwell. In this case, you might also have to consider a potential co-payment, which is what you pay for each day of your hospital stay.
Are there other costs after a hysteroscopy?
The procedure is quick, but the healthcare costs could continue even after coming home from surgery.
- Follow-up appointments: You’ll likely need to see your gynaecologist a few weeks later to discuss results (especially if biopsies were taken). Medicare rebates apply, but you may still pay a gap.
- Medications: You may need mild pain relief or antibiotics post-procedure. These are generally inexpensive pharmacy items, potentially subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
- Further treatment: If your hysteroscopy was diagnostic and revealed a larger issue (for instance, large fibroids requiring more complex surgery like a hysterectomy), you may need to budget for subsequent surgical procedures
- Pathology: If the doctor performs an endometrial biopsy, which involves taking a sample of the uterus’ lining (endometrium), that tissue must be sent to a lab for testing to diagnose abnormal uterine bleeding – like heavy menstrual bleeding – or endometrial cancer. This could incur a separate fee, especially if the laboratory doesn’t bulk-bill or charges a fee that’s greater than the Medicare rebate.
Helpful tip
If you’re booking a hysteroscopy, it’s worth asking your specialist: will this be a diagnostic or operative procedure? And in the event they do find something, do they plan to treat it immediately (like in a ‘see and treat uterine polyps’ approach) or will you need to re-book you for another procedure later. The answers to these questions can give you a clearer picture of the total costs.
Andres Gutierrez
General Manager – Health
How long will I have to wait for a hysteroscopy?
Waiting times are the biggest differentiator between public and private care.
Public system
Because hysteroscopies are often deemed ‘elective’ (which means non-urgent), you’d have to join a public waiting list. Depending on your hospital, location, and the urgency of your symptoms, you could be waiting anywhere from a few days to months.
Private system
It’s easier to influence the schedule as a private patient. Once you’ve had your consultation, you can discuss with your specialist and hospital of choice when to book the hysteroscopy. You’ll have more control and flexibility over the scheduling, which is usually a shorter wait than the public system.
Note though that if you’re new to private health insurance or have recently upgraded your cover, a 12-month waiting period applies to pre-existing conditions. If your symptoms (like heavy bleeding) started before you got insurance, you may need to wait a year before you can claim on your policy.
What level of health insurance do I need to cover a hysteroscopy?
Your policy needs to include the ‘Gynaecology’ clinical category, which is typically included in bronze policies and higher. This means basic policies might exclude this category, although it’s a good idea to check with your health fund.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hysteroscopy painful?
Most people undergo the procedure under a local or general anaesthetic, or sedation, so you won’t feel anything during it.
Does Medicare cover uterine polyp removal?
Yes. If the polyp removal happens during a hysteroscopy (operative hysteroscopy) in a public hospital, then Medicare covers 100% of the cost. In a private hospital, Medicare covers 75% of the specialists’ fees – those charged by the surgeon, anaesthetist, and anyone involved in the procedure. However, hospital fees (like your stay and treatment) fall squarely on you as out-of-pocket costs. This is where private health insurance could step; depending on your policy, it could cover a portion – if not all – of the hospital costs.
Can I drive home after a hysteroscopy?
No, you’ll need to be driven home, especially after going through general anaesthesia or sedation. It’s a good idea to ask a friend or family member to pick you up.
What factors affect the cost of a hysteroscopy?
Hysteroscopy costs can vary significantly because several things can affect the final bill. We’re talking about the type of procedure, the anaesthetic used, where it’s performed, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, additional medical services involved, and your health insurance policy.
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In what could be an already stressful time, don’t let medical bills and overwhelming costs add to the pressure. Taking a moment to understand how a hysteroscopy works and what drives the cost of this day procedure can help you feel more in control of your healthcare decisions.
Before you move forward, it’s worth having a look at your hospital cover. Compare private health insurance policies with iSelect by using our comparison tool or speaking with one of our health insurance comparison experts on 1800 784 772.
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