Womb biopsy anyone?

[DiaryofWimpy]

Just that really have you ever had a womb biopsy and how did you find it?

Ive To have one after a scan showed a thickening of the womb walls. I also had a colposcopy last week.

I am all gynaecological out.

Someone better qualified will be along soon but I refused it. I wasn’t listened to that what was assumed thickening was actual my last period at 57. I know there are articles on pain relief and lack of it during the procedure.

Is this a biopsy on its own or as part of a hysteroscopy?

(Both are possible.)

I think it’s part of a hysteroscopy

I have had four of them-the latest was yesterday. I have them because I have pre-cancer cells and a hysterectomy is not an easy option.

They have fitted a coil and check me with this every six months.

I also have a hysteroscopy, as well as a biopsy.

I wear a voluminous dress, so the only thing I have to take off will be my knickers. They will give you a gown to spread over your lower half once you are in the chair.

Take some c0-codamel about 45 minutes before your appointment. They will offer gas and air and a local anaesthetic. If they don't, ask for them.

It will hurt but not to the extent that you will scream in agony.

Have someone with you to drive you home and have sanitary towels at the ready.

I spent yesterday afternoon and most of today in bed, eating small amounts of nice things, sleeping and taking pain killers and I am now, apart from some bleeding, fine.

Good luck. It will be all be over in 30 minutes or so.

PS. When I say a hysterectomy is not an easy option, I am not speaking generally but referring to my own situation.

I had one last year (without hysteroscopy) I think I took painkillers beforehand, it was ouchy, the nurses kept me talking deliberately and I had to pause and catch my breath but it was very quick. I drove home and went to work.

I had my womb and cervix biopsied without being fully informed what was happening. I thought they were just doing an internal exam. I felt violated as they literally cut pieces of me off. I still think about it nearly 20 years later. I wish I'd complained at the time. I assume better practices are in play now as all recent gynae appointments have been very respectful

I’ve had biopsies twice and hysteroscopy twice. First biopsy was sprung on me as I thought I was only having an internal scan, they said it would be like a period cramp - more like a contraction! But was over quickly and I was allowed to drive home. First hysteroscopy I had polyps removed so had a GA. Second biopsy was at the same time as hysteroscopy and was planned (Feb 26) so much better. I was offered GA or local, I went for local as I have a highish pain threshold and GAs knocks me for six. Biopsy was painful but momentarily, had to catch my breath but was very quick. Nurse purposely chatty lol. I had a coil put in at the same time and it was oddly reassuring to see my uterus on screen and see there was nothing sinister there! I wasn’t allowed to drive myself home. Definitely take paracetamol an hour before and I was advised keep it up 4 hourly for next couple days. Over all the more relaxed about it the better, I’m sure you will be fine x

I’ve had biopsies and hysteroscopies twice, the second one also involved polyp removal. Both times I could cope with just taking paracetamol or ibuprofen prior to the appts, although I have a high pain threshold. So I would think about how you deal with pain and if you think you will struggle with it then I’d opt for something stronger than otc pain relief.

Also, wear something on your top half that covers your bottom half so that when you remove your trousers and pants and move to the chair, you have something that covers you. I know they give you a sheet to put over you, but the second time I went they didn’t give me the sheet until I was getting on the chair. I fortunately had a long t-shirt on that covered my bum but would have felt very embarrassed had I been more exposed.

Good luck for the procedure and the results.

I had a biopsy and hysteroscopy a couple of weeks ago, I found it ok pain wise (apart from the coil fitting, wow that’s a bitch!), I did find it all mentally a bit overwhelming though and ended up in tears.

mine was for a fibroid and very thick lining (should be 10mm and mines 27mm) but the result has been fine x

I have had this procedure 4 times, always under GA. It amazes me that people have this when they’re conscious. I have always come round from the op, bleeding and cramping. Luckily nurses on hand to dish out something stronger than paracetamol!

Can you ask for general anaesthetic?

In my experience it’s been an automatic thing, always booked in as surgical day procedure. Unfortunately I’ve read that in some areas it’s not, so you must insist if that’s what you want. It might mean a longer wait though.

I had a biopsy as part of a hysteroscopy. There was a local anaesthetic into the cervix.

I was very nervous - had taken over the counter painkillers beforehand and one lowest dose Diazepam.

The only thing that I felt was the speculum going in. Didn't even know that the biopsy was done until it was all over. As an encore, the gynae fitted a Mirena coil to protect the womb via localised progesterone. Didn't feel any of that either.

I was astonished - I was 64 at the time, never had children.

I had a similar history and did it which was good as the cause of my thickening was cancer.

You can. I had the coil fitted under one.

Many women do this but I can just about put up with the pain and prefer not to have a general anaesthetic.

Even on this thread, we have heard from women like myself who can just about put up with it-with gas and air and a local -and others who went back to work and those who could not tolerate it at all; so everyone is different and everyone has to decide the best way to approach it for themselves.

But if you think that an anaesthetic would be best for you, then ask for one and feel no qualms about asking.

I believe it should be offered as a matter of course, as depending on your pain threshold, it could certainly be justifiable.

Yes I asked on a Facebook menopause group about womb biopsy and they were all saying it was agony so I’m wondering whether to ask for a general anaesthetic but don’t think I’ll be offered one.

Ask and take it from there.

I’ve had two hysteroscopies but always under GA. I wouldn’t have one without that.

I’ve had womb biopsies both those times plus another without GA and just paracetamol. It was fine - a bit uncomfortable and cramping like period pain but it was over quickly. After a cup of tea and sitting for a while I was fine to walk home and then log into work.

You really can't speak for others when you say it will hurt but you won't scream in agony. Don't minimise this for other women.
I had a hysteroscopy 2 years ago alongside a biopsy and coil insertion. Thickened endometrial lining and cancer suspected. I chose a GA. Cancer was present and I had a full hysterectomy followed by some rounds of radiotherapy.

Very common. Look at your pain relief options and be firm with your choices when you speak to medical professionals before your hysteroscopy. Good luck

There are tonnes of threads under Women's Health about hysteroscopies + biopsies and often accompanied by Mirena coil fitting. Experience without anesthetic varies from 'it was a breeze, just take paracetamol' to 'it was agony, I felt violated'.

When I had a H + B + MC, it was automatically booked as a day patient and I was given the option of local or general anesthetic. I chose general but on the day I ended up having a spinal anesthetic. It was weird (new experience for me) but good.

If you look at the post this I made this morning, you will see that I made that very clear indeed.

In any case, I was not speaking for all women but giving my experience which had happened on Thursday.

There was no need for you to come along with an aggressive remark.

@MrsMavisPike
I wasn't aggressive
You said 'It will hurt but not to the extent you will scream in agony'
You don't know this , as in all women will have different reactions and experiences for this type of procedure.

I had a womb biopsy, hystoscopy and polyp removal done during my laparoscopy, so under GA. They gave me paracetamol about an hour before I went down to theatre and pain relief intravenously for when I came round.

I was warned by friends that I'd likely have a hysteroscopy and biopsies at an initial gynae appointment for fibroids as they'd been surprised by it themselves. They were right.

I am fortunate as for me it was similar to a smear. All over pretty quickly and with no real pain. I drove back to work afterwards and had no discomfort.