To ask if you have ever seen a gynaecologist and why?

No, never needed to. I’m 60 with 2 children. All smears at GP practice and mammograms at hospital. No problems with menopause.

Yes, I'm under one now for suspected endometriosis (waiting for a laparoscopy)

I am in America and started seeing one at 16

I’ve seen gynae loads. I have pcos and adenomyosis so see them every 12 months for that. I’ve also seen them for irregular smears and then finally for tests with conceiving .

You won't get an NHS referral unless the GP thinks something is wrong

this is a big difference between the NHS and the provision of health care in France / other European countries. Access to gynaecologists is open, there’s no need for a referral. I can go online and make an appointment to see mine (or a new one if I want to change) at my convenience. I might need to wait a few weeks for the actual rdv as gynaes tend to be busy. The rdv itself costs €70 for a full MOT, so to speak. Pretty much all reimbursed by the govt / insurance. That’s for a private gynae, in a clinic not a hposital. They pretty much all are here.

free gynae care is actually in the public system in hospitals. Again, referral not needed, you just turn up and wait with everyone else.

I have. In my home country for unexplained bleeding after sex, and a few other times post-birth. A urogynaecologist (UK, private) for pelvic floor issues post-birth.

No but my DD (16) did for a few years. The US have gynea checks as standard but if no problems why would you see one? My DD did for period problems (started with her first one that didn’t stop and ended up with 2 pints of blood transfused)

Yes there was a time I had extremely heavy periods and was constantly bleeding. Saw my GP, who referred me to a gynecologist which was followed up by a course of steroids followed by a hysterectomy to get rid of the fibroids which were making my life a misery. I felt so well - and free - afterwards. 🌹

This was seven years ago in one of the home counties. I'm hoping things have improved since then!

Once for bleeding after I had gone through the menopause. Everything was OK The other was when my Gp couldn't do my smear which was the first time that had happened. So I was referred to a gynaecologist who was able to do it.

@HolidaysPleaseNow it’s just the worse how they fob you off! Had a male GP tell me it was just my age and I had to expect changes in my cycle.

Initially I thought ok maybe that is the case but thankfully wised up and remembered it’s my body and I know it better than anyone else and after 25 years of perfectly normal cycles something was seriously off. I dread to think how some women live in agony because they don’t trust their instincts.

After the birth of my ds. It was an automatic referral due to the birth I had. It was about 7 months after. Useful appointment to discuss the tear and subsequent issues I was having. Also, he recommended a c section for my next birth, but by that point, I was 1 and done, and I still am.

Yes a few times due to ovarian cysts and pelvic inflammatory disease and the associated issues with both

I had some abnormal cervical cells on my first ever smear test aged 18, so I saw a gynaecologist then for laser treatment. I also had a pelvic ultrasound a few years ago as I had some symptoms of ovarian cancer (happy to say I didn’t have it) I don’t know if it was a gynaecologist who performed that, but I would guess so.

I’m 44 and never seen one. Had two children in my late 30s. If there is no issue why would you need to see one? By that reckoning you should also see an eye specialist or a heart specialist.

I saw a gynaecologist 20 years ago to get a polyp on my cervix removed. I was referred to him again recently when I had postmenopausal bleeding. He brought me in for a hysteroscopy, another polyp removal and a Mirena coil for the progesterone part of my HRT. He's very good.

Yes I have for menopause reasons.

For a check up. Prevention is a lot more effective than any cure.
I go to dentist every 6 months for check up and clean and gynaecologist for check up every year.

I'm in the UK and until I was 49 I had never seen one either. But I saw two because I had pain with no obvious cause. First was private and not much use. The second one was NHS and I saw her 7 months after the private one, 9 months after the GP did the referral. She did a biopsy and I got diagnosed.

There probably isn't any point seeing a gynae privately unless you are worried about something. You won't get an NHS referral unless the GP thinks something is wrong.

If you do need an NHS referral it's worth checking this site for the expected wait time before you ask for the referral as you can request to be referred anywhere and a neighbouring trust might be quicker than your local one:
https://www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk/

I lived in a European country for 10 years and saw gynaecologists for smear tests and also for all my antenatal appointments, scans and then the birth plus check ups afterwards.

Yes two but it only took me 25 years to be taken seriously by GPs due to ending up at a practice that has mainly female GPs.

Both gynaecologists were women. The first one confirmed a diagnosis and the second one was to "treat" me. First was horrid while second was lovely.

One of my SILs has had similar issues but was only taken seriously due to collapsing. Then she was treated by a gynaecologist and discharged back to a GP who refused to follow the gynecologist simple instructions after two years. That was until she collapsed and ended up in hospital...

I first saw a gynaecologist when I was 14 and needed a lump removed from my breast. I then had precancerous cells removed twice in my twenties, saw one privately when my doctor was horrendous dealing with a miscarriage and now I’m in my forties I’m under the care of one for menopause. So plenty of times for me but only because of symptoms, I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Exact same situation for me. Submucosal fibroids, horrific bleeding, pressure pain from a 12cm fibroid!

Fobbed off by doctors, told I needed a hysterectomy (in my mid 30s)and eventually saw a gynae after a private scan. Had my fibroid removed, haven't seen a gynae since.

Also, had a second child since then, so glad I didn't have a hysterectomy!

I wasn’t seen for more than 3 years and surgery wasn’t an option. They fiddled around the edges with things which provided some temporary relief but left me with an un-healed cut 10 years after giving birth. They were completely unconcerned with the impact it had on me.

Fibroids that required myomectomy. Took 6 months for first appointment and another 15 months before my surgery.

The operation was life changing but 100% would not recommend anything that needs you to see a gynecologist in the first place.