To be pissed off GP keeps on dismissing (women's health)

[MonaLisaDoesntSmile]

A abit pissed off, but also popsting for traffic. I gave birth late April. Bleeding (sorry TMI) stopped pretty quickly.
I have had however random bleeings, very irregular since. A few days on, a few days off, one day on, nothing for a week etc.
I have consulted over the phone with two male doctors, dismissed as regular. I have since had a period, and another round of bleeding. I had a very belated 10 week check, the doctor didnt even do any checks on me, pretty much didn't even listen to what I was saying, asked if all was well, I said no, she changed subject and then we were doing vaccinations for the baby, I was rushed out of the door, thank you bye.
Of course maybe it's nothing, maybe it's something.
I am getting really worried and paranoid, as recently lost a friend to cervical cancer.

Now I can't really afford going private, but MIL is happy to lend us some money tfor me to do the test privately. Does anyone know though, if the test was to come up with something, I could never afford private treatment, is it possible to go back and get NHS treatment?

I am not from UK and never had to go private, in my country private healthcare is a lot cheaper and private results are widely accepted by the NHS equivalent and people often use that option to speed up the process, but I am not sure how things work here?

Does anyone know though, if the test was to come up with something, I could never afford private treatment, is it possible to go back and get NHS treatment?

Under NHS rules, GPs aren’t technically allowed to refer you for NHS treatment if a problem was detected privately.

Obviously, they almost certainly wouldn’t enforce this if you had something serious and time critical, like cervical cancer, but it’s possible - depending on the attitude of your GP - they would refuse you NHS treatment for a more minor condition.

Is it a smear test you want? They may not be doing it on the nhs right now due to Covid but yeh I found they cared not a jot about the mother and loads about the baby. Are you breastfeeding?

Also, it’s not clear from your initial post - is it a smear test you want?

Because GP surgeries can’t give you a smear test if you’re not due one (I.e. if it’s not five years since your last one). The labs will refuse to test it. Smear tests are funded by the government for screening purposes - they’re not available for symptomatic people in pursuit of a diagnosis.

Just put in a complaint. They’re generally much more accommodating (not quite as good as doctors in other countries I’ve lived in but still) once you do.

Can you call back, ask to speak to a female GP and state specifically that you would like an internal examination as you have concerns regarding intermenstrual bleeding? If you aren't due your next smear test they won't be able to do it, but they can certainly refer you to colposcopy clinic if your cervix doesn't look right.

To be honest, I would love to not necessarily do a smear, if there is a different test they can offer to see what the issue can be. What I would be looking forward to ideally is not to be dimissed with nothing over and over again when clearly it's not normal to randomly bleed here and there.
In my home country women are encourage to do smear tests every year, ideally every 6 months, so having it done every 3 years is not inspiring me with confidence.

@lydia7986 My impression was (having spoken about it ages ago with my former GP) that indeed, they won't do the test if it's not due, unless there are issues, which there are- but maybe I'm wrong or things changed since then. Are they likely to make someone wait a year or so to check for that and then potentially tell you it's too late?

@LouiseTrees I am pumping. I know periods can still come while pumping, or even breastfeeding. My concern is that my period is finished, and 10 days later I get bleeding/spotting again.

@CuppaTea86 I will, but just feeling really deflated now with bleeding typically over the weekend, so now Im going to worry until Monday all the time.

This bleeding pattern isn’t unusual especially while breastfeeding including pumping.
An NHS lab will not process a smear early. It is a screening test not a diagnostic test.
If you are concerned your GP could offer an internal examination using a speculum and / or an ultrasound scan after discussion with you. They may be reluctant as bleeding like this is very common in the first 6-12 months after childbirth, sometimes longer If still breastfeeding. They should take a history from you to look for any other ‘red flag’ features though.
@lydia7986 this is no longer the case. If you have diagnostic tests privately you can be transferred to the nhs for treatment and would join a waiting list for relevant treatment at the point at which you’d be if you’d had that test in the nhs system.
If the treatment you request is not routinely offered on the nhs then they would not be able to refer you for it, or prescribe it if it’s a medication.

@FrowningFlamingo - I wish it was explained to me like this, but I got nothing. The bleeding was not my experience in my first pregnancy, and from the people I know, no one else had it in the same way, so it's maybe not that common. I asked elsehwere on this forum and no one else had it either- it's sometimes periods come early, not spotting every few days/weeks for weeks on end. I'd be happy to discuss, but dont know if any of the GPs have much expertise in it, but they are not keen to refer elsewhere, so it's a bit of a dead end.

As I said, I'm not dead set on smear, but would like to be offered something, anything at all.

@FrowningFlamingo - I wish it was explained to me like this, but I got nothing. The bleeding was not my experience in my first pregnancy, and from the people I know, no one else had it in the same way, so it's maybe not that common. I asked elsehwere on this forum and no one else had it either- it's sometimes periods come early, not spotting every few days/weeks for weeks on end. I'd be happy to discuss, but dont know if any of the GPs have much expertise in it, but they are not keen to refer elsewhere, so it's a bit of a dead end.

As I said, I'm not dead set on smear, but would like to be offered something, anything at all.

@FrowningFlamingo - I wish it was explained to me like this, but I got nothing. The bleeding was not my experience in my first pregnancy, and from the people I know, no one else had it in the same way, so it's maybe not that common. I asked elsehwere on this forum and no one else had it either- it's sometimes periods come early, not spotting every few days/weeks for weeks on end. I'd be happy to discuss, but dont know if any of the GPs have much expertise in it, but they are not keen to refer elsewhere, so it's a bit of a dead end.

As I said, I'm not dead set on smear, but would like to be offered something, anything at all.

Oppps, sorry for the triple post, glitch in the browser.

I maybe a bit paranoid, but a good friend recently passed away after being diagnosed late, a few months after giving birth. She was also being told all was well, until it very clearly wan't and the cancer progressed so fast there was nothing to be done. She left behind 3 children including a two tiny twins.

They don’t normally do smear tests for 12 weeks after you give birth as you can get abnormal results.

Post birth bleeding can stop and start, and periods are naturally quite haywire for a bit after pregnancy. And much more so if you are pumping. Given you are only 3 months after pregnancy, I can see why the doctors wouldn't have been worried about this.

Maybe try and get a video appointment with a female doctor to talk it through for your own peace of mind but you are unlikely to be offered a smear until at least 6m pp.

@Babyboomtastic As I said, I would be happy if anyone explained anything about it- after my first pregnancy I was also pumping and didnt experience spotting over such a long period of time (or at all), neither anyone I spoke to IRL. I could not find any info about it on the internet, as most sources focus on the first weeks and very heavy bleeding. The telephone consultations and the 6 week check felt a bit like a middle finger, no one could be bothered. Maybe it's unreasonable, but if I dont take care of myself, the GP clearly certainly won't. My HV did not find the bleeding normal.
Again, if not smear, would take any other diagnostic test, or even a decent consultation, it's the blaise attitude that gets to me, combined with being still cooped up in the house makes me restless.