To feel I have been ignored?

[Wedowonder]

After a telephone appointment with my GP.

For the last 6 months, my periods have been totally ridiculous. Sometimes I bleed every 10 days. Sometimes it's 3 weeks maximum between periods.

Sometimes it's just spotting. Sometimes it's a 14 day long mega period.

I've also had night sweats.

I am age 30.

I've always had very regular periods, so this is concerning to me. But my GP said I either just need to "put up with this" or to go on the pill.

AIBU to think there could be something else the matter? (Peri menopause, polyps/fibroids/cancer.) I am not a hyperchondriac at all, but my husband and I are quite rightly a little bit concerned.

Should I go on the pill and potentially cover up potential symptoms?

I am considering going privately as I would have thought my gp would refer me for at least a blood test.

Would you ask to speak with another GP?

If you are not happy with the outcome of your conversation with your GP and feel that it may potentially lead to serious complications for yourself, then yes, you should ask for a second opinion.

Yes I’d get another opinion. You know yourself what your “normal” is and, if this isn’t it, then you need to find out why.

Yes! Please speak to another gp or go private if you can afford it.
It could be a number of things but likely treatable. Do you get a lot of pain during your period/any other symptoms?

You need to speak to your GP again and say
“Irregular bleeding between periods needs investigation, please can you refer me to the gyne unit for an ultrasound”

I recently had a similar issue, my GP did some initial checks to rule out any type of infection - this was an internal exam and some swabs, similar to a smear test.
She then referred me for an ultrasound to check for fibroids etc.

So, definitely go back to GP. Be insistent. If they won’t do anything then ask to speak to another GP in the practice for a second opinion

Your GP should have, at the very least, done a blood test. He/she cannot just guess that the pill will be the solution.
( I was fobbed off in similar way, then a couple of months later moved house, registered with new GP who was horrified I hadn’t had a blood test.)
If you can afford private treatment I’d book blood test and scan. If not, go back to the GP and say you’re not happy with the pill solution , and you certainly won’t just “put up with it” ( is s/he still living in 1900 ???) and want a blood test to check hormone levels and a scan. Don’t ignore it.

Thank you all.
I am glad to hear your options match mine.

I was a bit surprised when she said I needed to "put up with it"!

I could afford to go privately. But am unsure of the correct route. Perhaps I should contact a private GP? Or directly contact a gynaecologist/specialist at the local private hospital.

Any irregular bleeding requires at least an examination. I spotted once and they did an examination.

100% ask for a gynae referral or go private. After 5 years of similar symptoms I had to go private to be diagnosed with adenomyosis. You can also pay just for a private ultrasound at local ultrasound clinics who will be able to advise of things like fibroids and polyps

Going private, either your current GP can refer you or you speak to a private GP they then will pass your details onto a consultant if needed. That was my experience anyway.

I would push your current GP for blood tests if they don’t I would ask for a private referral

One thing I’ll add - be very clear before you go to see a gynae about what your future plans are for having a family. If you still would like to have a family in the future please make sure you tell them as it will directly impact treatment options.

I would go back and try again OP. I had similar symptoms a few years ago, combined with gastric issues that I hadn't linked to my menstrual cycle but were ultimately part of the same issue. I went to the GP repeatedly, I felt like I was falling apart, my emotions were all over the place. At one visit I ended up seeing a trainee GP and ended up crying as I was so worried and hormonal. She was the only one I saw who actually listened to my symptoms and referred me for a scan as the guidance indicated. All the experienced doctors (men and women) basically dismissed me as a hysterical woman and told me to put up with it.

When I finally got the scan I was then referred to the hospital on a 2 week pathway for suspected cancer. Thankfully it turned out to be a massive fibroid that was eventually removed under GA. I've had perfectly normal periods since. Please push for a referral, you shouldn't have to pay for it.

You need to see someone else and thd pill won't magically fix that. I am 29 and have the same problem caused by the pill! I am now changing it. Don't wait. Can you go private? Perhaps a gynecologist

That’s really poor. I don’t see why you should have to go private when they have failed to provide any care at all, let alone good care, but it may speed up the process to go elsewhere. In the meantime, you could ask for a second opinion with a different GP.

At the least they should check your hormone levels and do investigations.

If you go private you can refer yourself. Have a google for consultant gynaecologist at private hospitals close to you, have a close look at their specialities and experience. I felt more reassured if they also worked for NHS. Make sure you are aware of the costs i would think a first appointment would be £250, blood tests £300 and ultrasound maybe £350.

Ooh forgot swabs not sure how much that would be

I got fobbed off all my thirties by my GP, had loads of peri menapausal symptoms. Roll on nearly 10 years and fertility affected and doctors recognise should have investigated my symptoms. Have some private blood tests done and take them to your doctor to discuss. Don’t be fobbed off - peri menapause is awful, and gets ignored in younger people.

@Wedowonder

Thank you all. I am glad to hear your options match mine.

I was a bit surprised when she said I needed to "put up with it"!

I could afford to go privately. But am unsure of the correct route. Perhaps I should contact a private GP? Or directly contact a gynaecologist/specialist at the local private hospital.

I was having some problems two or three years ago. I decided to get a private ultrasound, in my case it was because I was told there was a five month wait rather than I was being ignored.

You still need to get a referral even to go private, so you would need to ask for that anyway. But then I was able to organise the ultrasound very quickly and it cost about £350-£400. I would do that if I were you right now.

*referral from GP that is.

I am surprised that somebody said you can refer yourself for a private ultrasound, that was not my finding.

See a different GP at your practice. My old GP's answer to everything was either the pill, paracetamol or anti-depressants. Useless.

Contact your surgery and ask to see another ( preferably female) GP. I’d be cautious about going privately at this stage because investigations can be horribly expensive ( unless you have insurance).

You deserve to receive care and attention from the NHS.

I had this for years with a (male) GP. When I moved and got a new GP I mentioned it during my health check at registration and it got sorted immediately! We discussed the different things that can cause it and eventually agreed I needed to go on the pill. I’m so annoyed I put up with it for so long! See another GP, get the help you need x

I looked at private ultrasounds recently for suspected kidney stones. Surprisingly cheap and very quickly available for multiple reasons.

For example: www.ultrasound-direct.com/mobile/women-ultrasound-scans/

I'd have paid for a fertility scan a few years ago when we were having trouble but it wasn't available here then. Maybe it's worth a look for you?

I was told by a hospital once that if I was not happy with Gp service to ring 111 and say you are not happy and want to be seen by someone else.

Email your GP and write that you are unhappy with their response and quote the response given.

Ask to be referred to another GP.

Do not start the private route for gynaecology investigations unnecessarily, particularly without private health insurance.

Don't accept this.

IME GPs very rarely take period issues seriously, and you just get fobbed off for months/years without them doing any investigations. If you could go privately I would