Gynaecologist appointment

[Lauren8642]

Is it normal??
Back story I’ve been off the pill since December 2022 because I had bad mood swings and didn’t want any hormones being put in my body anymore and had irregular periods ever since so nearly a year. I have also been having painful sex since having my daughter via emergency c -section April 2021. I waited till June/july2023 to go to the doctors. The lady was very good and did me swaps and ultrasound and some basic blood tests which all come back normal she also did me an examination and I told her I had pain when she was pressing on my stomach. She referred me to a gynaecologist so they could have a better look into things.

Got my referral through and had my appointment today and I come out sobbing.
he asked me questions about my daughter like how old she is how she was born, what my periods are like and when my last one was. To cut it short He then went on to tell me that I should go back on the pill and that it’s normal to have irregular period and the only thing to make them regular is the pill and there’s nothing wrong with me because I’m young and already have a child and because all my test are normal.
He asked me three times how she was born then when I mentioned the painful sex he asked me if I had stitches and I said no I’ve just told you I had to have a emergency c section his response was why do I keep forgetting it’s because you’re so young ( what do can’t a young women need a C-section )
I said to him how can I help the painful sex he told me again to go on the pill I said I’ve had pain ever since my daughter was born and I was on the pill after her he then asked again how old she was. And told me if I don’t want to go on the pill just to use foreplay and lube.

so my question is.. are irregular periods normal ? ?????
And is this exceptional behaviour?

If you saw the gynae in a NHS hospital I would contact PALS about your appointment. If in a private run hospital complain to management. It is fair to say that some gynaes are far better than others and it looks like the gynae you saw was not at all up to speed to put it mildly. You were given duff information throughout.

What blood tests were done for which hormones and on which days?. I ask as blood tests taken on the "wrong" day in the cycle can give misleading results. You should have had a day 2 test to check your FSH (follicle stimulation hormone) level against that of your LH (luteinising hormone) level. Irregular periods are often caused by hormonal imbalances; in this respect a condition called polycystic ovaries is a common culprit.

The painful sex may be caused by adhesions arising from your c-section. Adhesions are sticky strands that can tether organs together and once formed only surgery can remove them.

@AttilaTheMeerkat It was nhs I’ll definitely get in touch with them.
My test were taken on the 13th of July I finished my period on the 12th of July so I was cycle day 7. These are the results below
if it was Pcos wouldn’t something show on ultrasound??.

The gyno did say that irregular period is down to hormone imbalance but he basically said that the coming of the pill (even though it was a year ago ) and having a child ( 2 years 8 months ago ) is the reason why.

is there anyway of checking for adhesions ?

He's talking out of his arse.

@Nopenopenopenopenopenope im glad I’m not just being a hypochondriac. We’re always taught that professionals know better so I came out questioning whether he was right and irregular periods are normal.
I though even though I’ve already had a examination through a doctor that he would want to do one as well but he said there’s no need.

re your comments in quotemarks

"The gyno did say that irregular period is down to hormone imbalance but he basically said that the coming of the pill (even though it was a year ago ) and having a child ( 2 years 8 months ago ) is the reason why".

He is only correct re the hormone imbalance. The pill also leaves your system very quickly after you've taken the last tablet. Please contact PALS; this person needs more training because he is talking rubbish

"Is there anyway of checking for adhesions"

Only via laparoscopic i.e keyhole type surgery. Drug treatment will not touch those once they are formed.

Your blood test as well should have been done on day 2 of the menstrual cycle. However if the menstrual cycle is irregular these tests can be done according to calendar days. In your case FSH was tested but not LH - you need both to check and compare against each other.

The cystic follicles associated with PCO can disappear, only to be replaced by further cystic follicles. It can also take a highly skilled operator to spot them. The polycystic ovary as well can appear larger than a normal sized ovary which is about the size of a walnut. It can also have a "ring of pearls" appearance to it.

Well the gynae you saw is disappointing isn't he. Hope you're ok. I also had a c section and have been struggling a bit with pain and also very tender when press on abdomen if playing with toddler etc. I have endometriosis and adenomyosis and had IVF and surgeries before my pregnancy so it's hard to tell whether how I feel now is due to those conditions or c section. I saw a gynae at Liverpool Women's hospital and discussed all of the above and she said you can get quite a bit of scar tissue post c section that can cause pain and that it can take two years to fully recover internally. The gold standard to know if there are adhesions is to have a laparoscopy as they don't usually show up on trans vaginal ultrasound or MRI scans unless it's something big like an endometrial cyst etc. having surgery to diagnose will result in more scar tissue in itself. Pretty crap at times being a woman. The pill was also discussed with me but similar to you I don't feel great on it so I'm awaiting a prescription for prostap which puts me in a temporary menopause to relieve symptoms. This is at the harder core end of managing it and she mentioned that the coil or contraceptive injection can also help as a middle ground. Hope you get sorted. I would defo complain as your age, giving birth etc shouldn't be used to 'explain away' how you are feeling it should be investigated properly. There are internal examinations also to see where you are tender that can help pinpoint the cause. Good luck xx

@flowergirl2020 thank you I still feel a bit crappy tbf going to put a complaint in. The star tissue should have gone now then with my daughter being 2 years and 8 months old.
I definitely need to push for a reason why I’m having pain during sex because that just got brushed under the carpet I couldn’t believe it when he just told me to use lube. He didn’t ask me where the pain was during or anything.
my doctor did a internal examination but he said there’s no point in him doing one cause I’ve already had one even though I told my gp it was hurting as she was pressing on my tummy. I’m only 25 I feel like I shouldn’t have these problems xx

@AttilaTheMeerkat thank you so much for you help in referring me that what I’m experiencing isn’t normal and needs to get looked at again. I’ll definitely push for some more blood test and get on the phone to them straight away for complaint.
When I ring my gp up for more blood test what shall I ask for?

I think you need a second opinion my lovely. That gynea doctor you saw clearly doesn't know what he is talking about. I think he might need to see his own gp..

Dedo gwt second opinion op.

@jadey1991 would I ring the doctors up to make another gynae appointment or do it whilst I put my complaint in?

I’ve rang pals and explained and asked for another appointment with a different consultant so they’ve put me back on the wait list. But said if my symptoms get bad then see my gp and they’ll put me on urgent

I was told the same, I have had spotting / bleeding irregularly for 3 years, started when my little one was about a year old.
I was told I had a regular smear and ultrasound and that was enough and to go on the pill. I tried this it made matters worse. I have pain during sex too so haven’t had sex in years.
I saw a private gynae and he said the same.
I pushed and was offered a hysteroscopy to reassure me, and I agreed to have a coil.
Had coil fitted January and hysteroscopy normal. I’m still spotting and also unable to have sex as it’s just too painful and im afraid I might bleed worse x

I feel you have been both dismissed and robbed off.

Deep pain during sex can be indicative of endometriosis being present. It’s usually diagnosed via laparoscopy. Hysteroscooy would not detect it necessarily.

My friend had this after a c section and it turned out to be endometriosis. You need a second opinion.

@AttilaTheMeerkat I don’t know if it is that because I’m don’t get really bad period pains and I know that’s one of the symptoms. Cause I did think that. First month TTC to unsuccessful even though we did it every other day I know that not everyone falls pregnant first month but worrying it’s something worse

@Mrsworried1 that must be awful for you!
did the painful sex start after you had your little one? And if so what kind of birth did you have?

Have you had a smear recently? Sorry if this has been asked already.

@OnAir i had my first one last year i think it was when i turned 24

Yeah all of this started after the birth of my child. Sex was painful and then when she turned 1 the irregular bleeding began. I had a c section x