Vaginal examination

[DiaryofWimpy]

I’ve been having a bit of pink discharge which needs to be checked out.

im having a vaginal examination tomorrow and wondered if anyone had any ideas on what this entails?

thank you

I’ve had post menopausal bleeding on HRT so I presume this is why your GP wants to do a vaginal exam. They would just have to jump on the table and the GP will examine you internally. Takes no time at all and isn’t sore.

Have you had a smear before?

Yes I’ve had many smears but never a vaginal examination

I think we need a bit more context. Are you post menopausal or peri?
Is this mid cycle or maybe an early period?

The only thing a GP could see would be a polyp on your cervix. Or severe vaginal atrophy (dryness) which can cause bleeding.

Anything else, inside your womb, if you're post menopausal, needs a scan which means a referral.

All your GP can do is use a speculum to look at your cervix.

@sunshinehappydays The usual thing for post menopausal bleeding is straight for a scan, not examining you. Anything that could be ovaries or uterus needs a consultant.

I’m post menopausal and she did say she wanted to examine me before deciding on a scan or not. I’m on HRT and forgot a few pro beta pills which could have caused the pink discharge

Provera pills that should read

I didn’t just forget to take the pills my mum was seriously ill in hospital and I completely forgot to take them for 3/4 days.

Ive had a few issues in that region and a few vaginal exams.

Each time they used a long prod which has a camera on. Doesnt hurt. Bit uncomfortable going in but that's it. They have a look around then usually tell you what they had found or tell you they will email the GP the results

If they dont tell you anything there and then dont immediately panic. My first one she was very sheepish and only said 6 words - skirt up, GP will contact you.. I was v nervous but they found nothing haha.

It was pretty much over in about 15 minutes.
Wear a dress or a skirt as it makes the whole thing much easier.

Not uncomfortable, pretty quick and honestly i found it easier than a smear test

I’ve had post menopausal bleeding and my GP examined me before the scan. She said I had a cervical ectropian which put my mind at rest a bit but I still had a scan a few weeks later.

If you miss the progesterone tablets it's quite normal to have spotting.
Hopefully this is all that's going on.

The discharge has completely stopped. Should I still go for an internal?

It's your choice.
It is well recognised that missing progesterone can cause a minor withdrawal bleed. (It might mention this on your leaflet for Provera.)
Your GP won't be able to see much from a vaginal examination, only if there is anything on your cervix.
Do they know about the missed progesterone? I'd tell them about that and see what they say.
A vaginal examination with your GP is the same as a smear test but without taking a sample. When they do a smear test they look at the cervix, at the same time as taking the sample.
A quick look with a speculum is nothing, so if it reassures you, go along for that.

I’ve decided to come

I went. It was a little bit sore to start with until she found the right size speculum then it was a breeze.

I advised her the discharge had stopped but she wants me to have another examination in 3 weeks as I have thrush. I’ve never had thrush before so that’s a new one.

What does she want to do next time? Is this another swab? Did she 'find' thrush or take a swab and get the result there and then?

She took a swab there and then. She wants to see me in 3 weeks to check my bleeding has stopped

Well the discharge. No bleeding thankfully 😅

I also on HRT I had pink discharge and my GP did the same and adjusted the dose and it didn’t stop so she sent me for a scan. She did note that something often not discussed is the vaginal walls thinning and therefore more likely to be uncomfortable, dry, sore etc and so said it is important women understand about the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause - I’d never heard of it. My GP said it was huge undiagnosed issue and must women didn’t know about it. Lots of UTIs etc It changed me I had a tablet once a day for 3 weeks and then twice a week. And no more issues and problems.