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Original poster

Womens Gynae is still barbaric

193 replies

ellie09 · 30/05/2025 11:57

Recently got referred to a colopscopy for a biopsy after an abnormal smear.

I have had biopsies before, on my skin etc and I assumed there would be local anesthesia of some sort for this one.

But no.

Two biopsies taken from my cervix with no local anesthesia or pain relief provided. It was painful, it was burning and I burst into tears afterwards in the car.

I wasnt expecting to have a screen of my cervix directly beside me, showing the procedure. I wasnt expecting to get up from the chair and blood to be below me on a paper towel on the floor (I thought they would have removed this before I got up)

I like to think I have a really high pain threshold - I have been through birth, tattoos, piercings, kidney stones etc without much complaint, but this seemed to really rile me up.

Not to mention, nothing was explained thereafter, I was taken into a room with wipes and a pad and told I could go home. Thats it.

Went home, took painkillers and cried some more.

Is this really womens health in 2025?

OP posts:
IhadaStripeyDeckchair · 30/05/2025 12:08

I'm sorry you had such an awful experince
if you feel able pleae speak up about it to the hospital/clinic - we need to shout out for change.

Womens health is so misogynistic it beggers belief.
We are supposed to be put up with pain, be silent & comply. Yet it can adversely affect every aspect of our life.

I had a gynae cancer. It took nearly 3 years of worsening symptoms until I got a diagnosis. Treatment was brutal, my questions were dismissed & at one point I withdrew from treatment due to the crass & callous behaviour of one doctor.

Advocating for yourself when you are unwell is tough, can you take a friend or family member with you to any future appointments?

Be gentle on yourself

FedupofArsenalgame · 30/05/2025 12:17

ellie09 · 30/05/2025 11:57

Recently got referred to a colopscopy for a biopsy after an abnormal smear.

I have had biopsies before, on my skin etc and I assumed there would be local anesthesia of some sort for this one.

But no.

Two biopsies taken from my cervix with no local anesthesia or pain relief provided. It was painful, it was burning and I burst into tears afterwards in the car.

I wasnt expecting to have a screen of my cervix directly beside me, showing the procedure. I wasnt expecting to get up from the chair and blood to be below me on a paper towel on the floor (I thought they would have removed this before I got up)

I like to think I have a really high pain threshold - I have been through birth, tattoos, piercings, kidney stones etc without much complaint, but this seemed to really rile me up.

Not to mention, nothing was explained thereafter, I was taken into a room with wipes and a pad and told I could go home. Thats it.

Went home, took painkillers and cried some more.

Is this really womens health in 2025?

Sounds very similar to mine in 2022. However they couldn't get a decent biopsy sample so did another under GA

Original poster
ellie09 · 30/05/2025 12:17

IhadaStripeyDeckchair · 30/05/2025 12:08

I'm sorry you had such an awful experince
if you feel able pleae speak up about it to the hospital/clinic - we need to shout out for change.

Womens health is so misogynistic it beggers belief.
We are supposed to be put up with pain, be silent & comply. Yet it can adversely affect every aspect of our life.

I had a gynae cancer. It took nearly 3 years of worsening symptoms until I got a diagnosis. Treatment was brutal, my questions were dismissed & at one point I withdrew from treatment due to the crass & callous behaviour of one doctor.

Advocating for yourself when you are unwell is tough, can you take a friend or family member with you to any future appointments?

Be gentle on yourself

Edited

I need an LLETZ for CIN 2. My DP is coming with me for this one - mainly to drive back and forth because driving home from the last one was dreadful!

Sorry to hear about your experiences - it is truly awful how women are treated in healthcare

OP posts:
Original poster
ellie09 · 30/05/2025 12:18

I was told to "go home and take some paracetamol"

Typical really

OP posts:
Original poster
ellie09 · 30/05/2025 12:18

FedupofArsenalgame · 30/05/2025 12:17

Sounds very similar to mine in 2022. However they couldn't get a decent biopsy sample so did another under GA

Show quote history

Thats awful - I hope you're all sorted now!

OP posts:
FedupofArsenalgame · 30/05/2025 12:20

ellie09 · 30/05/2025 12:18

Thats awful - I hope you're all sorted now!

Show quote history

Ended up with a radical hysterectomy but been clear of cervical cancer for 3 years now fingers crossed

babystarsandmoon · 30/05/2025 12:20

I’ve had two colposcopy’s with biopsies and never felt a thing. I’m booked in to have another so hoping it’s the same experience again.

Posting my positive experiences so women aren’t terrified and avoid going.

Original poster
ellie09 · 30/05/2025 12:22

babystarsandmoon · 30/05/2025 12:20

I’ve had two colposcopy’s with biopsies and never felt a thing. I’m booked in to have another so hoping it’s the same experience again.

Posting my positive experiences so women aren’t terrified and avoid going.

Edited

It seems rather divided - some seem to feel nothing and others feel pain.

I thought I would have been ok as I have had coils fitted 2x times with absolutely no issues at all

Glad you had a positive experience!

OP posts:
Perhapsanothertime · 30/05/2025 12:22

It’s always been like this, mine was nearly 20 years ago and was done the same way

tweetypi · 30/05/2025 12:23

I had similar years ago. I found it all really traumatic and painful. Later, I was sent to the same unit for a pregnancy appointment and had a panic attack as soon as I walked in as it all came flooding back. The lovely midwife didn’t quite know what was going on but she escorted me elsewhere in the hospital to help me calm down and carry out the appointment there.

Peridot1 · 30/05/2025 12:25

It’s not just gynae stuff either. My sister is undergoing a lot of medical procedures and hospital stays and three times sedation hasn’t worked for various procedures and she was held down so they could do it. She is now traumatised. She has had it put in her file that holding her down for a procedure isn’t a procedure it’s assault and she will contact a solicitor. In fairness the first time it happened the doctor was teary but it continues. Different procedures. Different doctors.

TheNeighboursComplain · 30/05/2025 12:26

YANBU. I recently had a hysteroscopy, biopsies, Mirena fitting and transvaginal scan. I have a high pain threshold, but the pain was excruciating. They didn't offer me local anaesthetic until 20 minutes into the procedure, when they'd already done the worst bit (the biopsies). Afterwards I was told to get dressed, go home and take paracetamol.

A few days later, on Instagram I saw a female celebrity post that she'd had the same procedure as mine, except she'd been given local anesthetic from the start, and afterwards was given pain relief via a drip FFS.

Original poster
ellie09 · 30/05/2025 12:28

TheNeighboursComplain · 30/05/2025 12:26

YANBU. I recently had a hysteroscopy, biopsies, Mirena fitting and transvaginal scan. I have a high pain threshold, but the pain was excruciating. They didn't offer me local anaesthetic until 20 minutes into the procedure, when they'd already done the worst bit (the biopsies). Afterwards I was told to get dressed, go home and take paracetamol.

A few days later, on Instagram I saw a female celebrity post that she'd had the same procedure as mine, except she'd been given local anesthetic from the start, and afterwards was given pain relief via a drip FFS.

Seems when its private its a lot different isnt it?

Sorry you experienced that - it sounds absolutely horrendous!

OP posts:
Original poster
ellie09 · 30/05/2025 12:29

Peridot1 · 30/05/2025 12:25

It’s not just gynae stuff either. My sister is undergoing a lot of medical procedures and hospital stays and three times sedation hasn’t worked for various procedures and she was held down so they could do it. She is now traumatised. She has had it put in her file that holding her down for a procedure isn’t a procedure it’s assault and she will contact a solicitor. In fairness the first time it happened the doctor was teary but it continues. Different procedures. Different doctors.

Just awful!

I hope the legal action goes in her favour

OP posts:
NotpossibleToprocess · 30/05/2025 12:37

Sadly this doesn’t surprise me. I had a horrific barbaric experience in 2000 so 25 years ago (involving serious misconduct) seems nothing changes in any areas of gynae

blacksantanapkin · 30/05/2025 12:40

I feel like this is one area where things haven’t moved on at all for women. Even attitudes on here can still be very misogynistic, you only have to look at threads about not wanting a male doctor doing a procedure or a woman trying to make choices about giving birth. It’s very ‘put up, shut up and be grateful’.

willowbuffytara · 30/05/2025 12:41

Slightly different as I had GA but I’ve just had an 8hr gynae op last week
I’ve never felt as validated and listened to about endometriosis before, from someone helping to dress me to putting my pad in as I can’t bend over yet
The staff were amazing

I’m sorry you had such a shit experience and they really should be offering pain relief

Totallytoti · 30/05/2025 12:45

Sorry you experienced that op. This is why I think having private insurance is soo much needed. I’ve had a baby private and my experience was just exceptional. The consultants, hospital, aftercare worked around me rather than just accepting a battle over everything.

I’ve had a hysteroscopy, ivf so many procedures all private and they all went smoothly.. Never had to fight or ‘advocate’ for anything.

GoBackToTheStart · 30/05/2025 12:45

I had very similar for mine, except I did have a local for my LLETZ (nothing for the punch biopsies which were uncomfortable, but tolerable). For the LLETZ, the discomfort from the local injections, the screen, and burning flesh smell affected me more than I was expecting. I’ve had several coils fitted/removed with no issue, no issues with smears or similar either and I’m not particularly squeamish, but like you I got into the car and burst into tears because of the intensity of it all. Looking back, I probably wasn’t in the best state to be driving after the LLETZ so it’s good your DH will be there for support and to drive.

I later had surgical management for a miscarriage and was given pain relief tablets and also gas and air before the local due to how uncomfortable the injections into the cervix are, and then during the procedure. The (female) consultant doing the procedure was both baffled and disgusted I’d been through the LLETZ without full relief and no appropriate management afterwards other than “Don’t poke around at it and take some paracetamol later”.

The surgical management of my miscarriage, despite being heartbreaking, longer, and more invasive, was actually a better experience due to the gas and air.

Don’t see them taking chunks of penises without pain relief other than paracetamol…

OpalSpirit · 30/05/2025 12:55

Im really sorry that happened to you.
I have had two gynae biopsies and they were without pain relief and really brutal.

Womens healthcare is absolutely appalling.

GPs are the gatekeepers and, in general, are really lacking in knowledge and patience with women’s heath. The situation is dangerous.

To access any real care I have had to pay. I cannot really afford this but it was necessary and I was desperate (thank god I did as I was very ill).
I feel so bad for the very many women who would not be able to do this.

dottydodah · 30/05/2025 12:59

I had sepsis due to a burst cyst 20 years ago .GP is hopeless ! thought I had a bad back FFS!(left now thankfully) 2022 unexplained bleeding ,was seen in hospital by a consultant .really hurt (nurses asked me to squeeze their hand .WTF) while I was in a chair legs wide apart . Needed another look , I refused and had an MRI scan instead.Ovarian Cancer .1 hysterectomy and 6 sessions of Chemo later , hopefully in remission .Women have a poorer experience than men according to the Guardian .You Dont Say!

Peridot1 · 30/05/2025 13:13

@ellie09 - sorry I wasn’t clear. If it happens again she will go to a solicitor. She hasn’t at the moment. Last procedure her doctor went down with her to make sure all was ok. She has been in hospital so much over last 18 months that she knows her doctors quite well.

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 30/05/2025 13:16

It was a few years ago now but I had an awful time with a marina coil switch. I was in so much pain. I was angry later when I found out they could have given me an injection in my cervix to help with the pain but it was never offered.

KenAdams · 30/05/2025 13:17

I was astounded at being asked if I wanted gas and air or sedation for a colonoscopy. I asked for gas and air when I was having a miscarriage and the nurse told me that was only for mums actually giving birth.

marchmash · 30/05/2025 13:19

Bless you OP, I had this 3 months ago and was absolutely depressed and terrified, so much so that the actual procedure was not that bad, but only because I had built it up in my mind, crying every day etc. I actually was glad to see the screen to get an idea of if there was visible lesions on the cervix, I could see that at least there was nothing terribly bad. The female doc was nice, however had I not read up on it, I would have been surprised by the unpleasantness and pain of the biopsies. As it was, it was genuinely OK, but only because I had read hundreds of accounts of women having it done. I think so many medical procedures are utterly barbaric and can't believe how little tech has moved on. I have CIN 1 and CIN 2 but they don't do a LLETZ here in Germany unless the CIN 2 persists beyond a second biopsy a year later. I'm taking all sorts (Pervistop, Colpofix) etc, vitamin D, to try to clear the lesions and have also retroactively had the HPV vaccines, (2 jabs of 3, paid myself), as I have read that this can help although they are not therapeutic vaccines. Good luck with your LLETZ and I hope you'll feel better soon, you are not alone and you are definitely right!