Womens Gynae is still barbaric

[ellie09]

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?

Agree.
It’s making me want to rage scream for women everywhere 💔 😡

I’ve stopped going to ‘preventative’ procedures (mammograms, smears etc) now I’m in my 50s as I don’t want my breasts squashed between 10/20kg of weight and I don’t want my vagina clamped open and my cervix cells scraped. If I ever have symptoms of anything I’ll cross that bridge but until they make women’s healthcare less like torture the medical system can F off.

We need to complain. Medical professionals need to understand the law and the consequences for them personally if they continue with a procedure without consent. It’s criminal assault. It is not for them to take it upon themselves to decide a patient isn’t in pain and that it’s better to proceed. Where a patient has mental capacity, it’s the patient’s call.

This.

Do not be guilted or shamed into not complaining.

ALWAYS put it in writing to the hospital and to PALS EVEN IF THEY SAY ITS YOUR WORD AGAINST THEIRS

Why because if someone comes along later and does a FOI saying 'how many complaints have you had about this?'. They can't say none. There is a trail of evidence. We know you won't be the only one from these threads.

One thing I found campaigning about Bounty years ago was that women didn't complain officially and this was used by the hospitals to stay there wasn't a problem.

When medical scandals do start to surface this type of stuff MATTERS. Even if they ignore you, it means there is a still a legal paper trial they can't just ignore.

Please please do put in an official complaint through official channels if this affects, even if you think it's pointless and won't change anything.

These things do tend to eventually catch up with hospital trusts in time; complaints aid the process.

I had one about a decade ago. The consultant asked me if I was particularly stoic and I said "not every" so it was done under GA. It was private of course, it would have been a different matter on the NHS.

If they can sedate for endoscopies (at either end), they can do it if they're going your vagina as well. I see no reason not to except sexism. Even if they don't do a GA they could use the same sort of sedation and pain relief combo that they use for a colonoscopy.

I went for a smear recently and the nurse couldn't complete it because my vagina clamped shut and said no! Well kind of.

Anyway, I ordered a home HPV test from a company called Daye and am waiting for that to come back. If it's positive I will have to try the smear again but if not, I am not going to bother and will just do a test every couple of years. I was just going to suggest you do the same if you don't already. It's not 100% foolproof but most cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV so it at least lowers the risk of not having it on the NHS.

Please don’t risk your health. I had a smear this morning (I’m also in my 50’s) Hadn’t for years after my horror colposcopy.
I was dreading it, because I hate them, but I was lucky enough to get the nicest nurse in the world, who was so kind and reassuring all the way through. Even had me laughing on the couch which made me feel less awkward.
Perhaps ask to have a chat with your practice nurse, she may be able to reassure you.

That's shocking! I had the same experience but it was 25 years ago. I thought things might have moved on by now.

Don't lecture women making an informed decision.

Sorry but I despise people saying they are 'making the wrong decision'. The risk a) remains relatively small b) is stacked in certain groups with a certain risk profile c) the procedures themselves carry a risk of harm (including the risk of completely unnecessary treatment from a false positive).

This whole idea of 'correct and incorrect' behaviour needs to change. Women shouldnt be lectured on this and told they are 'embarrassed' or if they 'just talk to their practice nurse it'll all be ok'.

They need to get their heads around the idea that it's the procedures that need to change not the behaviour of women who are 'not complying'.

It patronising and tone deaf.

Yeap, that is the way it is. No anesthetics for this biopsy.
I had one too. I felt it at the time, it was painful, and then got worst on the next hours.
I also had the over the counter standard pain killers.
There is much much to develop in women health. A lot.

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.

Sorry is that the norm in the UK or is is a choice? To have an ERPC/D&C under a local? When I had mine and anyone else I’ve ever know who has had to have one it’s been under GA (Ireland). It’s not even the pain aspect. But the trauma of being awake during the experience.

I’m not criticising other people’s choices btw if there is that option but I’d be horrified if my only choice was to be awake and have a local

Well, I would still encourage women to attend their screenings, biopsies and treatments.....
The question is that medicine has indeed changed the approach. Our girls are vaccinated. This should reduce drastically the cases of cervical cancer due to the HPV virus, which is the main thing checked during the cervical screening.
It is too late for us to get the vaccine, apparently. So we are unlucky on that front.

I had exact same other than they'd shooed poor DH in so he saw it all in close up, though it finally got through to him how awful it can be. He was incandescent that they do all that (plus I had a polyp removed) with no pain relief whatsoever.

The violation is quite something though, hope you can take it easy and be looked after

You should be prescribed more or different progesterone as a first step. Those are the guidelines so they should follow them! You can ask for a GA gor the hysteroscopy.

Me too. I’ve opted out of smears completely. I know it’s not advised but I’m not going through another one. I’m 58. I can still just about tolerate the breast screening but it is very painful as I’m big chested. And slightly off topic but if I ever went to breast screening and the HCP is male I would refuse.

Where did I say you were ‘making the wrong decision’ or your behaviour was ‘wrong’?
My own behaviour was exactly the same for the same reasons until this very week.
Nor was I lecturing you.

Gynae procedures are fucking awful, kept awful because it’s only women after all, and I’ve avoided them for years now after my own painful and humiliating colposcopy, and fuck that I’m low risk.

However, I did have to see a gynaecologist this week, who was concerned at how my cervix looked. So I had a smear, and am referred for another colposcopy.
In the unlikelihood that I have cancer, the treatment will be far more horrific than had I had a smear a few years ago and earlier less invasive remedial action take .

ETA sorry, meant to quote @RedToothBrush

I would refuse a male mammographer too. Though I was beaten up on a recent thread for saying this.

This was 20yrs ago but I had a punch biopsy without anaesthetic. It still makes me feel fragile even now. I have no idea why it is still acceptable to snip bits of tissue out of women without pain relief.

I insisted on a general anaesthetic for the subsequent hysteroscopy and LLETZ.

Your vagina clearly has her own wisdom! ✨

Thank you for the advice. I will do that ❤️

I will also do home HPV tests once I'm discharged from my current, potentially torturous round of treatment.

I'm also opting out of all smear tests. It's painful, and they only test for HPV now which my sexual history means I definitely don't have. I've weighed up the risks and it just isn't worth it.

It's barbaric that women are expected to go without pain relief. The stories of women being held down are actually sickening. I've held down my toddler for an IV line put in and that was horrendous enough. I can't imagine doing that if it could possibly be avoided.

I went with a friend last year and there’s no way i’d do that without anaesthetic. My friend was in really bad pain for a couple of hours after. She sadly died from an unrelated / aggressive cancer 6 months later so not sure if that contributed in any way towards the pain, but it was horrific to watch.

I got the hell out of there and did try to complain when I felt a bit stringer but was fobbed off
'He was the only doctor on that day' (utter bollocks) and 'it can't have been that bad'
I didn't have the strength to take it any further
It took up my whole head space and I just couldn't do it anymore
If that makes me weak,then so be it-it certainly felt like nobody cared

when I was 17 i was raped which resulted in a pregnancy which ended in a miscarriage. Admitted to hospital I was told by my GP I would have a D n C which was standard then for anyone miscarrying. that afternoon a doctor came round the ward pulled the curtains round and told me he had to get rid of any foetus and blood clots. thinking it would be in theatre he told the nurse to hold me down then pulled the items out of me with forceps no pain relief. I was so traumatised resulting in a breakdown which ended in me going to a mental hospital staying next to a mother and baby unit which did not help. when I panicked and lost my shit I got slung against a wall by a male nurse resulting in a broken nose and shoulder.
Didnt mean to hijack but meaning to say even though that was a few years ago throughout my life anything to do with 'women's things' ie pregnancy birth hysterectomy etc has been nothing less than barbaric humiliating and painful

If referred for hysteroscopy or even a colonoscopy you have the right to demand a procedure to be carried out under GA and if this is your choice make sure its written clearly on your records. You do not have to endure this sort of pain.

nothing has changed it seems.

when I was in labour with my oldest son, 30 years ago, I laboured for 4 days, not dilating, on nothing but gas and air. I was scared, exhausted, starving and traumatised by the pain.
His heart rate was dropping so they decided to put a probe in his head.

when they placed the green cloth over my legs to do it, my addled exhausted brain though they were going to operate on me and I was frantic … screaming, I’ve got no pain relief, don’t hurt me…and blacked out.

before I lost consciousness, the doctor slapped my thigh hard and told me to ‘get a grip!’
I had PDSD for years afterwards.

women are routinely treated with contempt…when we’re at out most vulnerable, and it’s not changing.