Endometriosis or Cervical Cancer

[Liv1999]

So I’m 23, and I gave birth to my second child in July 2021. During the end of my pregnancy I thought I was experiencing pelvic girdle pain, however 10 months later I’m still experiencing a lot of issues. My symptoms are: pain during sex and afterwards, frequent urination, bleeding between periods and after sex (sometimes), extreme lower stomach/bladder pain which radiates to my back and hips/pelvis often, urgency to urinate, pressure and uncomfortableness when bladder is starting to get full.

I’ve been to the doctors countless times, I often get uti type symptoms but every time my urine test comes back clear. They’ve checked my cervix multiple times, each time saying it’s a so fine and healthy (last check was feb 2022, I’ve had swabs taken (not a smear). They’ve eventually referred me to gyno with suspect of endometriosis and my laparoscopy is booked for the end of July 2022. However when I went for my gyno appointment, he was under the impression I was under the wrong sector which was very bizarre and he told me it didn’t sound like endometriosis according to my referral. So I’m very confused. My GP isn’t the best and have recently made quite a lot of mistakes with things. So am I overthinking this or should I push for a smear. They have refused multiple times to give me a smear, and when I said ‘so because it looks healthy I can’t have cancer’, they said no, but it’s very likely you don’t. Which I understand they need to cover themselves but I think unless you can 100% say so a smear should be available. I’m sexually active, have 2 children and think I should be able to get one. Thoughts please as this as been happening for nearly a year, and my symptoms have flared up massively over the past few weeks.

There certainly is confusion here re both the gynae and your GP. Did the Gp surgery not send you a copy of their referral letter?. What was your response to this gynae when he was talking about you potentially being in the wrong sector?. At least you have a lap op at the end of July and I would ensure that this is not just a diagnostic lap. A follow up appointment should also be made a week or so post lap to discuss the findings. You do not want to be told about the lap findings when you are in the recovery room, this is poor practice.

All your symptoms particularly pain during sex can be linked to endometriosis being present. Bladder and or bowel problems can also be linked to endometriosis as well. Any symptoms that are cyclical in nature and or get worse up to and including menses should be checked out to see if endo is present.

Jos trust website has information on there re why cervical screening is not routinely offered to under 25s. It’s basically because such cancer is rarely seen in women under that age.

I told the gyno my entire symptoms and said my doctor who referred said she thinks it’s endometriosis. I was there whilst she made the referral, and she never once focused on only my bladder feeling pressure, which is what he spoke about mainly. So I’m not sure what went on. He didn’t make me feel very comfortable at all and made me feel like I was exaggerating to be honest.

So the pain during sex varies upon where I am in my cycle and especially the positioning. Definitely when I feel it more towards my stomach and bladder it feels way more painful and feels bruised afterwards. I’ve had my last few doctors tell me it’s sounding like endometriosis on my bladder. I’m just absolutely terrified of being that ‘very rare case’ that does have cancer and being it’s the what if I’m being ignored and it becomes too late. I’ve had a cervical examination, and the last one in Feb I had due to irregular bleeding and she saw it and had to clean before inspection as she couldn’t clearly see my cervix. But this had me worried that she missed something, or that the previous examinations it was too small to see etc. I’m well aware I’m an over worrier, and once I’ve had the laparoscopy I know we can go from there, it’s just frightening me to death.

i have had my cervical cancer vaccine thing, which I know has great effect but it’s still those ‘rare cases’ that have me a
paranoid to the high heavens. I’ve also had 2 transvaginal ultrasounds which came back clear.

thankyou for answering 🙂

I would ensure you see another gynae going forward given how uncomfortable you felt with this person, its no point trying to work with someone who makes you feel like this. You need this laparoscopy op asap and that should give you some more answers.

Re yuor comment, "So the pain during sex varies upon where I am in my cycle and especially the positioning. Definitely when I feel it more towards my stomach and bladder it feels way more painful and feels bruised afterwards". That is far more likely in itself to be endometriosis rather than something like cervical cancer.

Ultrasounds would not detect endometriosis if it is present.

Ask to be referred to a female gynae oncologist

Endometriosis was suspected from my internal ultrasound. The gold standard is laparoscopy though.

@Liv1999 i wondered how you got on? I’m having very similar issues which have been ongoing a year now, not long after I gave birth to my second child. The gynaecologist thinks mine is not endometriosis either but has agreed to do a laparoscopy which is booked in for 5 weeks time x