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

[GinJarRogers]

I’m mid forties and have never seen a gynaecologist (I’m in the UK). It seems like in other countries this is a routine part of healthcare. Should I be paying for check ups privately? I don’t have any specific issues (that I know of) but it feels like by my age it’s probably a good idea to get checked out. Interested in hearing others experiences, both in the UK and abroad.

When in the UK, I only saw a gynaecologist following an abnormal Pap test when cells were removed. I was never referred again despite debilitating period pain and multiple miscarriages. That mean that fibroids were not confirmed until I moved abroad where you generally see specialists.

Had I seen a gynaecologist in the UK I would probably have been spared years of literal and emotional pain.

If you have any issues, please insist.

Yes I had polyps that needed removing

Yes, finally referred after about 8 years of being fobbed off by GPs about my painful periods. Had a lovely gynaecologist, kind, caring and he believed me. I was diagnosed with endometriosis.

I live in the U.K., am 53 and no have not seen a gynaecologist . I have my smears done at the GP and had my DC at the hospital but no other interventions.
It’s just the U.K. system of GPs rather than specialists unless you need a referral. Other countries operate differently so you go to the specialist directly.

I've seen doctors for gynae issues but never a specific gynae. I think in America where it's offered as routine care it's due to the extra money being paid for these appointments, with the UK having free healthcare I think most get what they need when they need it, and some would probably argue they don't even get that.

Only been to see a gynae to have precancerous cells removed following a smear x

I'm Polish. You need to go to gynaecologist if you want oral contraceptoves. I also used to go once in a year for a routine check including breast ultrasound. Now I pay for private visits when I visot my parents (~£45 for a visit and ~40 for ultrasound).

In Poland access to some specialists is easier i.e. majority of children are seeing Pediatricians not GPs. There are more check-ups and each child is checked by a doctor before getting a vaccine.

I’m 52 and after my first birth had to see one as I had prolapses. Apart from that no. Always seen our practice nurse for smear tests.

In my late 20s for period pain and infertility.

Saw about 3 of them to try and fix the botched episiotomy from having my DD. Was fairly pointless and after 10 years I gave up.

In the European country where I live women have a check up with a gynaecologist every year, it’s the only specialism you can self-refer to (although a lot of women go semi-privately to ensure they can always see the same doctor). I’m a bit lax and probably only go every two years or so, but each time they hand me a letter summarising the visit, reminding me to have a check up in a year, so it’s definitely a standard thing. Smear tests and mammograms are done separately through a screening programme.

Have just done some googling. Incredibly it seems to take longer to diagnose endometriosis on average in the US than the UK - about 11 years vs 7.5 years. My guess would be in fact that that's due to the symptoms being recorded earlier in the US, rather than the diagnosis actually taking longer. Presumably the annual gynae check is more available for girls and for women with insurance as well.

Once so far - I have a tipped uterus which has resulted in years of painful and difficult smears. Last year the nurse gave up trying to find my cervix after about 30mins and referred me to a gynecologist at the hospital, which did the job in 15mins and told me I would be seeing them in the future. I really wish everyone had at least one gynae appointment pre-birth - I would likely have considered I might need an emergency section had I known, let alone the years of pain and false readings for my smears. I'm mid 40's.

Yes I did to get something diagnosed. I went private, it was good

I don’t think I ever have and I’m 46 with two kids

though thinking about it saw a couple of obstetricians while pregnant and they might have been obs-gynae consultants

find it weird on us tv dramas you hear of people mentioning ‘my’ gynaecologist. That would be rare here but then again GPs don’t really exist in the us.

Yes. But only because I had a rather large, painful lump on my inside labia. Thankfully, the lump was non-cancerous, but it still needed to be surgically removed. I then saw the consultant again at a three month post-surgery follow-up, at which point I was discharged from her care.

I wouldn't have seen one of there hadn't been an issue. As a PP said, you don't see other specialist consultants either, unless there is an issue.

I had an unusual smear so saw one, who suspected endometriosis and then i has a laporoscopy and all the endo lazered off.

Ive had extremely irregular and excruciating periods since the age of 12. When I have a period, I vomit and pass out due to the pain, lose clots the size of my fist, and have pain in my abdomen, back and legs.

Sex is excruciating, and so are examinations and smear tests.

Im only just being taken seriously by GPS and gynaecologists. As I’ve been pleading with them to investigate since I was 15 years old. I’m 30
now. And have only been prescribed the contraceptive pill and naproxen to treat my periods.

Gynae care in this country is shocking.

I'm waiting to see one due to 4 miscarriages

Yes, paid for a private one after being robbed out by my GP and sent round the houses, finally got an NHS referral but the wait was too long

4 years?!
When was that? I'm assuming different areas have different wait times.
I had the same thing happen to me and had to wait 3 months for the surgery 🙂

Torrentially heavy periods and had an endometrial ablation.. life changing for 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.

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.

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!