Have you struggled to access gynae health support? Ask Consultant Gynaecologist, Dr Sujata Gupta, for advice - £200 voucher to be won

[GraceEMumsnet]

Created for Circle Health Group

Do you find it difficult to talk about gynae health with your GP? Have you had trouble accessing the right diagnosis or referral? Circle Consultant Gynaecologist Dr Sujata Gupta will be on hand to offer advice on how best to talk to your GP.

• Everyone who shares a question on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw.
  
• One lucky user will win a £200 voucher provided by Mumsnet.
  
• Sujata Gupta will be back online to answer a selection of your questions.
  

About Consultant Gynaecologist Dr Sujata Gupta:
“As an expert in the medical and surgical treatment of complex endometriosis, Dr Gupta is committed to helping women feel seen and heard in their treatment journey for chronic gynaecological issues. She has more than 15 years of experience in gynaecology, commonly performing hysterectomies and myomectomies to treat a broad range of women’s health problems. With a key focus on endometriosis, menopause, gynae cancers, and painful periods, Dr Gupta’s work is centred around helping women access the right information and treatment they need to manage and even overcome their gynaecological problems.”

Here’s what Circle Health Group has to say:
“Millions of women in the UK struggle with the effects of a gynaecological condition, yet they often go undiagnosed for years. Many struggle to access the right information, or feel embarrassment, which prevents them from asking their doctor the appropriate questions and getting diagnosed sooner.
We want to empower women to understand their health better and overcome the stigma surrounding women’s health by sharing more information on gynaecology, including how best to reach a diagnosis and treatment.”

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Mumsnet Insight T&Cs apply

[hopezibah1]

I had fibroids about 10 years ago that were removed. It turns out that I have fibroids again. I also have VERY heavy periods for about 24-48 hours but in the lead up to it very little bleeding for about 5 days. My GP says the options are birth control pill (which I'm not keen on these days after being on the pill for 20 plus years) or merina coil (which I tried before and bled all the time with). The lady doing the ultrasound mentioned that uterine embolization might be a good option. I'd never heard of it before. What are the pros and cons? I've been refered to gynaecologist but no idea how long the wait will be so I want to be prepared with knowing about options beforehand.

[Stephgr8]

I have not had a period in the past 10 years. I am 48 and have been on HRT for 5 years. Last month I bled for 5 days. It was light bleeding. Should I be concerned?

[sashh]

Why do secretaries have so much power?

I was being taken in to hospital as an emergency for what turned out to be ovarian cysts, the one time they caught it before it burst the US measured it at 10cm diameter.

I went into hospital for an oophorectomy, the registrar operating discovered Fitz-Curtis-Hughs (despite an op 12 months earlier where there was only 1 adhesion) so I woke up with two ovaries and a referral to the consultant. I'll call him Mr X

I received a letter saying I would be seen by a different Dr, so I turned up to see the different Dr (lets call him Y) who said, "Sorry you need to be seen by Mr X" I said I was, so he referred me to Mr X, and a week letter I got a letter saying I would be seeing Dr Y.

So I phoned the hospital and spoke to Mr X's secretary who said I could only see Mr X if I had cancer and did I have cancer?

I told her what had happened and she said I still couldn't see Dr X, so I went to my appointment with Dr Y who wrote a letter to Mr X to say his secretary kept moving my apointment.

What a waste of my time, I was a supply teacher so I lost a day's pay each time, I have no idea how much it cost the NHS.

I did finally have the op with Mr X.

[p1n3apple]

I am peri menopausal and am taking lots of supplements on the advice of my gp (vit D, vit B2, magnesium, v high doses of evening primrose oil, and iron) while they decide whether I'm "allowed " hrt. I'm 45 and my symptoms are tiredness, 3 week cycles, horrid nausea and migraines just before and after my period starts, forgetfulness, occasional dizziness and light-headedness, and a worsening pelvic floor (am seeing a private women's physio for the latter as the NHS waiting list is a year long).

My gp also prescribed me Ovestin gel for vaginally dryness. I reacted very badly to the gel - felt like a really painful, severe attack of thrush with itching and burning. Is there an alternative to Ovestin? And should I push for HRT?

[ToastofLandon]

I have 2 questions!

• Why are vaginal swab tests so limited to investigate gyne issues?
• Doctors never heard of some of the yeasts and bacterial infections that can be so debilitating for women? (E.g. ALL yeast strains, ureplasma and mycoplasma). How do we change this?

I’ve been backwards and forwards to my GP since September last year. Countless examinations and swabs, 2 lots of blood tests for diabetes, check hormones etc, plus a sexual health screening. Only when I paid privately for a vaginal microbiome test did I find out that my symptoms were caused by a Candida Glabrata yeast infection, which causes 10%-15% of yeast infections.

I’ve now been referred to a specialist for treatment which will take months. It’s frustrating because all the visits to my GP for tests could have been avoided if the testing was fit for purpose, and if GPs were more knowledgeable about gyne conditions.

[notaflyingmonkey]

I'm post menopausal, and struggling with vaginal atrophy (VA). Have been prescribed Oestrogen pessaries, which made no difference, and am currently using the cream. I asked for a ring, but was given the cream, with no explanation. I still bleed as a result of sex, and get frequent UTIs.

As a lovely little side bonus of some or all of this, I have also been struggling with urinary incontinence. I cannot seem to get a GP to take any of this seriously enough to take forwards solutions for me - so is that it for me now?

[WheredidIputmymarbles]

I am 49 and after years of very heavy periods caused by a thickened uterine lining and recurring polyps (which I have had removed several times but grow back), I had a Novasure ablation in April 2022. I can not get a follow up appointment for a couple of months yet but I am sure it’s failed. I have had 3 periods since and they are getting heavier and lasting 9-10 days! What are my options from here? I dont want another ablation, can not take a long time off for a hysterectomy, Mirena and artificial hormones are not good for me (exacerbate my anxiety). I have lots of Perimenopause symptoms, would body identical hrt help with the excess bleeding, can it reduce periods? My GP doesn’t seem to know and I can not get a gynaecology appointed to ask anyone.

[Rae1000]

Hi I would like to ask a question I have never had answered does an elevated...well high FSH mean you have a low ovarian reserve and does it mean that it is more likely to go into an early menopause? Thanks so much

[GodspeedJune]

The opening post mentions women not accessing treatment due to embarrassment and stigma. I repeatedly reported endometriosis symptoms to various GPs and hospital consultants over a 15 year period before finally being diagnosed. I had many warning signs (chronic anaemia, needing prescription strength painkillers, painful sex, endometriomas seen on U/S, fatigue). Infact I was only diagnosed when it became apparent I was infertile and I have no doubt I’d still be undiagnosed if I hadn’t tried and failed to conceive.

I’d be keen to hear Dr Gupta’s view on how we tackle medical gaslighting and disbelief of women’s symptoms? The average time to diagnosis for endo is 8 years, mine took twice that despite persistently seeking help for my unmanageable symptoms. How do we change the stigma not within patients, but in the medical community, where women’s suffering and pain is not taken seriously?

[Asuwere]

I'd like to know what advice you can give women who are repeatedly fobbed off by GPs. How do we get concerns taken seriously?

[Dullardmullard]

I’d like to know this as above being fobbed of and it isn’t just male GPs either.

I asked for help and got your fat, it’s your diabetes etc never can you damn well listen to me properly thanks.

plus what are your thoughts on getting a period of a gap of two years and covid jabs?

[stopthepain]

I have severe pain and severe blood loss (changing pad every hour for the first day) every period to the point where I scream in agony and then black out. I’ve even passed out in public. This has been going on since I was 10 and I’m in my mid 20s now. My periods are very irregular. Sometimes I won’t have a period for 4 months. Sometimes I’ll have a period 2 weeks after my last one.

GPs have fobbed me off saying I was too young (as a teen). The pill caused breakthrough bleeding and excruciating pain. I stopped the pill 2 years ago.

I had an internal ultrasound which didn’t show anything sinister. GP refuses to expedite my gynae referral because she doesn’t deem my condition to be serious. I’m so worried about my fertility. Please advise!

[Gingerkittykat]

I had a biopsy for prolonged vaginal bleeding which came back normal.

My Dr has now recommended a Mirena but I am put off by how painful and genuinely traumatic the biopsy was.

Is there any kind of pain relief or anaesthetic they can give you for Mirena insertion?

[oootapasooo]

I’m currently suffering from quite a few symptoms, a change in my period cycle, dryness, increased UTIs, flushes, plus a lot of other symptoms which are all signs of peri menopause. I’m in my early 40s but I’ve heard that GPs only recognise this as an issue for over 45s. Will I be taken seriously and be given the exact help that I need if I go to my GP about this?

[Grosscostsagreed]

I have had vestible redness, inflammation and pain for the three months following a 7 day course of pivmecilliam. After being prescribed thrush treatment which didn't work the GP was at a loss of what to do next as swabs had come back clear.

I organised and paid for my own private swab which showed no lactobacillus and heavy growth of Escherchia coli and Enterococcus. I asked the GP if this was aerobic vaginitis but she had never heard of this and asked me what the treatment was!

I paid to see a private gynae who told me that it can be normal to have low level of lactobacilli and to use emollient cream when washing and discharged me. I have seen no improvement. The pain is debilitating and I don't know how to get this vaginal dysbiosis treated.

[Cotswoldmama]

What are signs of being peri menopausal and what is the average age to get them? My periods have recently become lighter but longer and more painful I wondered if this might be an early sign.

[Willowkins]

All these questions make me so sad. At least we're not getting the usual crew asking what we're complaining about because they're absolutely fine and they have no problems.

My question is about pain medication - specifically how do we make sure women get effective pain medication for (1) period pain (2) endo (3) cervical smear tests (4) anything else I haven't thought of?

[GenialHarryGr0ut]

I had an ablation 7 years ago - had v light periods ever since but on the last two occasions they have been heavier with a return of the cramps that I used to experience pre-ablation.

Is this inevitable? Or linked to menopause?

[CaughtUpAgain]

I have very long and heavy periods and regularly pass very large blood clots during my period. I approached my doctor for help and he said it was because I was 'erring on the side of overweight,' but this has been happening for a while and my BMI was previously 19, so I wasn’t overweight when this started. I’m in a lot of pain and feel completely unheard, but the surgery won’t let me see a different GP. what can I do?

[BorsetshireBanality]

Doctors!
pre-menopausal woman + anaemia could be due to equal heavy bleeding due to fibroids!

When I told my gp I was “tired all the time” he sighed, made me stand on a weighing machine and told me “since you joined this practice you’ve put on 10 lbs, no wonder you feel tired carrying all that extra weight around”

Well it turned out I had anaemia, fibroids, endometriosis and a big ovarian cyst, not that he had anything to do with diagnosing them!!

[tulips27]

@BorsetshireBanality How did you get your diagnosis, if you don't mind me asking? I have long suspected I have something like that going on.

[BorsetshireBanality]

The cyst was diagnosed at a hospital scan following a miscarriage, then the doctor that carried out a work medical (private sector) referred me to a surgeon.

[tulips27]

I'm really sorry to hear that.

[hareagain]

Are GPs leaned on to follow NICE 'guidelines' to the letter by practices because of the financial implications

[hannahbjm]

Yes i definitely do, I seem to always get fobbed off with it's hormonal or that's normal after childbirth or having 3 children.
I never know when or who to follow up with and if I need private or there is an NHS gynae i can see.