Not sure if your symptoms are ‘normal’? Ask the London Gynaecology specialists - £200 voucher to be won!

[CeriMumsnet]

Whether it’s telling yourself that heavy periods are “just one of those things”, dealing with pelvic pain that you’ve learnt to push through or experiencing symptoms that don’t quite feel right, for so many women, gynaecological health comes with unanswered questions. And too often, those questions are minimised, delayed or quietly worried about alone.

That’s why three specialist consultants from London Gynaecology are here to help.

From contraception and fertility, to fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, painful periods and early pregnancy concerns, London Gynaecology experts Mez, Ora and Baljinder will be answering your questions openly and honestly, offering clarity, reassurance and practical next steps.

Share your question by 4 March for expert gynaecologist advice and a chance to win a £200 voucher (T&Cs). The London Gynaecology specialists will be online in from the end of Feb to answer your questions.

About the Experts
Mehrnoosh Aref-Adib (Mez), MRCOG
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Mez supports women with both common and complex gynaecological concerns, from fibroids, endometriosis and PCOS to ovarian cysts, heavy or painful periods, early pregnancy concerns and abnormal smear results. With particular expertise in ultrasound scanning, colposcopy and minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery, she focuses on using the least invasive approach appropriate, helping women feel informed and in control of their treatment decisions. Recently referenced on the Blended podcast hosted by Kate Ferdinand, Mez is known for her calm, clear and reassuring approach.

Ora Jesner, MBBS FRCOG
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Ora specialises in urgent and early pregnancy gynaecological care. Women often see her for early pregnancy pain or bleeding, concerns about miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, as well as fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis and vulval symptoms. She leads the Emergency Gynaecology Unit at Whipps Cross Hospital and offers outpatient hysteroscopy, minimally invasive surgery and contraception procedures, including coil insertion and removal. As a mother of four, Ora understands first-hand the emotional and practical realities of navigating health concerns while caring for a family.

Baljinder Kaur Chohan (Bajinder), MBBS BSc BA MRCOG DFSRH
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Baljinder supports women with a wide range of gynaecological and early pregnancy concerns, including menstrual problems, pelvic pain, PCOS, fibroids, contraception advice and early pregnancy assessment with ultrasound. With over eight years’ experience as a consultant at Royal Berkshire Hospital, where she also holds a joint Clinical Lead role, Baljinder combines clinical expertise with deep empathy. As a mother of two, she appreciates the challenge of managing your own health while juggling work, children and everything else life throws at you.

Why do I feel so tired and exhausted the week before every period?

What’s the longest you can still have Mirena coil inserted in your body? And if the date of removal has passed already, is there any risk to the health? Thank you

Hi, I’m 47 and for the last 35 days I’ve been either bleeding lightly or spotting (a darker, brown blood) every day. When my actual period has been due, I’ve bled but nowhere near as heavy as a “normal” period. I suspect this is just perimenopause rather than anything sinister. Would sequential HRT help to regulate things so that I’m not bleeding/spotting all the time?

I've had a copper coil in for nearly 14 years. I'm nearly 53 and still in perimenopause. Should it be removed or can I wait until I reach menopause as I don't really want to use another form of contraception at this point in my life?

Sometimes penetrative sex can be painful like I can't take the penetration and often get bleeding after, had 5 kids naturally and last colposcopy in 2023 was clear.

I have stage 4 endometriosis, an 8 cm endometrioma, hydrosalpinx, and kissing ovaries that are stuck to the bowel, among other complications. I am currently waiting for the MDT team to consider whether surgery is possible.
I was offered the option to try Ryeqo. Would you personally go on it, knowing not much research has been done, for any side effects hoe it will affect you? I am 37, and I know that there is no cure for endometriosis.
Would you choose chemical menopause in my situation? What would you advise your daughter if she were in the same position?

If you were going through menopause or in the future, would you take HRT yourself?

As a specialist, do you feel that women’s health problems are overlooked and not studied enough? Why do many gynaecologists still tend to assume that contraceptives will help or “fix” conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, and other women’s health issues, instead of advocating for more research and more effective treatments? It often feels like women’s concerns are brushed off, rather than fully addressed — for the sake of all women and future generations.

Knowing what you know today, what would you advise younger yourself, or a young girl, what she must know (regards gynaecological matters)?

Is there any treatment that can eliminate long term thrush? Barely been keeping it at bay at best with fluconazole and canesten for the past 20 years.

OK mine is strange. I have slow colon motility and I take prucolopride for this. In the last 6 months every time I empty my bowels I bleed from my vagina. Its definitely coming from my vagina and not a tear, piles or fissure. Ive really spent a lot of time looking. My gp isn't taking me seriously and the wait for gyny is 62 weeks in my area. What can I do?

When I am having a period, I get very strong period-type pains when i need a bowel movement. Is this normal and why does it happen? I am 45 and in peri, only started having periods in the last 18 months after switching from the depo injection to the implant. This pain does not happen with bowel movements other than when I'm having a period.

Hi, am 54 and suffering badly with Urticaria (hives). Could this be related to hormones/ HRT? Stopped the oestrogen gel just in case but still have the Mirena coil in. Should I have it removed too?

I have been diagnosed with bladder cancer. No blood but symptoms of urgency and losing bladder control.
9 months previous to this I noticed blood when I wiped and reported this to GP and was referred to gynae - investigations NAD.
On reflection this was likely to be possibly blood from my bladder.
Would you agree that it is difficult to tell whether blood is from the bladder or uterus?
What is in place to differentiate diagnosis?
Thank you.

I had my 3rd coil taken out last year, thinking that was the end of it all, I'm 58 this year. But I'm bleeding continuously and the GP has suggested another coil (I did have a scan and now due for a biopsy). I really don't want one because I dread having them put in and taken out. I get cervical shock.

Is a coil the best option to deal with the bleeding (my periods never stopped in the 20 or so years I had coils pre menopause) and thickened womb lining?

Oh poor you, that sounds very difficult - when I spoke about this to my girlfriends, they thought my periods were very heavy, they used 2 a day and one at night, and had no leakage - I feel like every time I move on my first three days I will leak and flood everywhere, it really puts how I live my life on hold for these few days.

I have been anemic every year since 2018 - now in my late 40s. I will have an iron infusion but the anemia always returns.
I have very heavy periods and PCOS. I had a blood test years ago and was told I don’t have endometriosis as there was no sign from this test. I am now on HRT and I am anemic again.
What options are there for me - I don’t want to use the coil or take the pill due to faith reasons.
Currently I am on progesterone and ostrogel. I’d like to know why my periods are so heavy and if they are the cause of the anemia.

Please see a different GP. There is a Vaginal estrogen cream that is a low-dose, prescription-strength localized hormone therapy used to treat menopause-related vaginal dryness. It’s probably genito uninary symptoms of menopause and is entirely treatable with this cream. Please go back and press for some solution. What your gp has said is horrifying and very uninformed.

My 17 year old DD has always suffered with heavy painful periods, they don't seem to be settling at all. She's had Tranexamic acid, 2 types of progesterone pill (this just caused constant bleeding) and the doctors are continuously fobbing her off. Where do we go now?

I'm 5 months post sub total hysterectomy. Im still experiencing bleeds (very light lasting for 7 days) on the exact dates my periods would be due. I wasnt warned about this and feel shocked to be honest. Will it last untill menopause?

I had 4 day periods every 28 days for 20 years. 18 months ago at 34 they started being irregular and now for the past year I am bleeding 90% of the time sometimes very heavily. Drs did a hysterscopy and ruled out fibroids and womb cancer. But now won’t do anything else for me other than try and make me take the mini pill or mirena coil. They won’t look for endo for me. I have also put on weight in this time. How can I push nack? What should they be doing/looking for? They just keep sayign some women get unexplained bleeding.

I was bleeding after sex last year, had it all checked out and nothing sinister was found, doctor told me to keep an eye on it. I then got a positive hpv on my smear so I asked the doctor if the hpv could be causing the bleeding but they couldn’t say for definite. The bleeding has now stopped and I’m wondering if it’s likely due to my body having successfully fought off the hpv virus?

Further to this one (sorry! Can't work out how to edit!) I sometimes also experience cramping similar to period pain even though I have the mirena coil and am not having periods. What could this be? (Assuming it's reproductive health related and not e.g. gas, which I don't think it is)

I've been offered surgery to get rid of endo (.MRI.scan ) and adenisis (sp) however I'm 49 and the consultant said at my age the symptoms will die down.

Is it safer to get rid or keep it ? Bearing in mind my symptoms since my initial consultation have eased but I'm concerned about leaving this stuff in ( is there a cancer risk ) but also worried about an operation.

Thank you .

I had endometritis after my first C-section and it wasn’t a great experience. I’m considering a second C-section in the future and feeling quite anxious about the risk of it happening again.
Has anyone had endometritis after their first section and then gone on to have another C-section? Did it recur, or was everything straightforward the second time?
Would really appreciate hearing your experiences.

Have you tried period knickers, they have been a game changer for me. I use them with a tampon or my moon cup and it stops leaks so I don’t worry so much

I have multiple intramural fibroids, a couple of subserosal (tennis ball sized) and a large submucosal fibroid (mango sized). This has resulted in a bulky uterus which I can feel above my belly button (confirmed by the gynaecologist as what I'm feeling) and I've been bleeding since last April. I'm on continuous norethisterone (30mg a day) to control the bleeding and Zoladex to try and shrink everything ready for a hysterectomy and salpingectomy (waiting list is LONG even though I'm classed as urgent). Will need to be open if things don't shrink.

I am still bleeding but it's mostly manageable. Without the norethisterone, I end up in hospital losing dozens of cricket ball sized clots every hour.

What nobody has answered in nearly a year of this is the following:

Where does the bleeding come from?
Where does the pain come from?

The bleeding can be catastrophic if not medicated. But is it the uterus lining? The fibroids? It's a huge amount of blood causing anaemia and the need for transfusions. And the pain can be like labour. Hours of contraction type pain which comes in waves and at its worst, I am on the floor sobbing and unable to function. I have mefenamic acid and paracetamol but they don't touch it.

I'm just waiting waiting waiting for surgery but I want to know where the blood and pain come from. I know it sounds like it doesn't matter and my gynaecologist just says it's "one of those things" but I despise not knowing what's actually happening with my own body, particularly when it's been controlling everything I think and do for the last year.

Its been 11 years since having kids and am menopausal. I got really bad pgp in all pregnancies and lost my mobility. I still get pgp some months around my period. I have eds. Could that contribute to it? I dont know what is normal. Is there anything that could help? A friend suggested the coil?