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Original poster

Agonising hysteroscopy

132 replies

CoralPanda · 04/05/2024 01:28

Hi I had a hysteroscopy recently for post menopausal bleeding. They told me it would be a bit uncomfortable and pinch a bit. They just said to take a paracetamol before I went in.

So I went in thinking it would be like a smear, bit uncomfortable and invasive but no big deal. Couldn’t have been more wrong! The second they started trying to shove past my cervix it was like an agony I’ve never felt in my life. The nurse just kept saying oh don’t worry that’s the worst bit over you’re doing so well. I thought it was going to pass out from the pain then it got worse! They took a biopsy with absolutely no pain relief and I went grey so they stopped because they thought I was going to pass out.

Has anyone else had this barbaric procedure done?? I want to make a complaint but my husband says I’m being over the top and it’s a legitimate medical procedure

OP posts:
Girliefriendlikespuppies · 07/05/2024 23:05

I had one and it was awful, they couldn't even get past my cervix!!

I nearly passed out and threw up so they stopped.

Nonewclothes2024 · 07/05/2024 23:17

There's a campaign on Twitter to push for a general anaesthetic for hysteroscopy.
It's outrageous they expect women to have the procedure with a couple of paracetamol.

www.HysteroscopyAction.org.uk - Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy

WearyAuldWumman · 07/05/2024 23:54

Duckinglunacy · 07/05/2024 23:02

I have had one without GA and one with. The one without was totally fine, they used some local on my cervix and I didn’t feel any pain at all. It was a bit weird and odd feeling, but I enjoyed looking at the screen and having a chat about what was going on. I walked home from hospital, about 2 miles. Was totally fine. To be honest, whilst the GA was nice, it was also way more disruptive. I had to have a few days off work and felt groggy for days after.

that said, the reason I was there in the first place was an elusive Mirena coil and I had a removal attempt for that wirh ultrasound which had me climbing the walls. I don’t know what she did, but she triggered some kind of internal spasm that was utterly horrific. And that was without getting through my cervix.

So they at least used some local on you as opposed to ploughing on with nothing to help.

jackstini · 08/05/2024 08:02

@DiscontentedWoman - thank you for the link, I've completed the survey. It did feel positive to do Flowers

CherryogDog · 08/05/2024 10:27

Also talking about pain thresholds, until my menopause I had a very high tolerance, I had a Mirena fitted with no LA and felt just a slight twinge, smears were very tolerable.
I had a double mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction and was home after 4 days and the pain was completely manageable.
But even with the LA the pain was the worst thing I've ever experienced in my life.

frankincenseandmyrrh · 08/05/2024 10:34

I had one under GA and when I came to, I was in so much pain the nurse took one look at me and gave me a Fentanyl tablet.

Gladespade · 08/05/2024 13:26

I had a hysteroscopy with no problem BUT, I had a coil insertion which was exactly as you describe, it was barbaric and left me shaking for hours afterwards. I can't believe what we, as women have to put up with, in term of pain. I honestly don't think it would be expected of men.

JenniferBooth · 09/05/2024 00:11

Ive never heard of this until this thread so thanks for the heads up. If i ever have to have this i will be insisting on a GA

I find smear tests excrutiatingly painful which is why i havent had one for ten years

LovelaceBiggWither · 09/05/2024 02:25

Do you have the self administered pap smear option in the UK? It was a gamechanger for me (and it led to my cancer diagnosis).

coxesorangepippin · 09/05/2024 02:30

Doctors and nurses need to stop infantaling women. It needs to stop. It happens to women all the time.

Nat6999 · 09/05/2024 04:31

catsmother · 06/05/2024 22:47

I too have had a hysteroscopy and removal of endometrial polyps, due to post menopausal bleeding on a 2WW referral. The difference was that my hospital included the option to ask for GA in the information leaflet I'd been given at the pre op appointment.

Years before I had suffered the most excruciating pain, and sense of violation, when, at 40 weeks pregnant, and without any prior discussion let alone consent, an arrogant consultant told me he wanted to 'take a look to see how I was progressing ' but then proceeded to perform an excruciating sweep. I wondered why the accompanying nurse put her arm round my shoulders before this 'look' commenced. I was so shocked afterwards I threw up, and literally shook for several hours - I have never felt such sickening pain, including labour pains. Nor did it serve any purpose at all as my baby was born 12 days later anyway.

Due to that experience I have since struggled with all sorts of intimate examinations and procedures and I knew I'd have a full blown panic attack if the hysteroscopy was even slightly painful, and especially so if it was being performed by a male doctor.

Thankfully having explained all of the above to a very sympathetic nurse, having a GA was never an issue and everyone I encountered prior to being knocked out was very respectful. I realise from reading other women's experiences that I was fortunate to encounter a decent and understanding team right from the outset - and although the option for GA was somewhat hidden away, at least it was there in black and white for anyone to request.

It is appalling and sadistic that women's pain is so often minimised and attributed to 'hysteria' ... the origins of that word itself, i.e. having a disproportionately negative and 'out of control' reaction to something does of course relate back to us having wombs; as if possession of that organ is all it takes to be ridiculously fussy. Our literal, physical feelings and reactions are all too often brushed aside and blamed on 'hysteria' ..... 'calm down dear' springs to mind. While society has viewed our experience for centuries in that way, regardless of which part of us is hurting, I truly believe that particular contempt is ingrained and reserved for any kind of gynaecological complaint. It's really hard to articulate properly but I do wonder if 'women's troubles' are somehow seen as less important, and us, as less deserving of sympathetic and kind treatment than men suffering specifically male issues? And why is that? Is it a semi conscious choice within the current health service with limited resources? Or is it deeper than that? Why is hysteroscopy too often minimised as a minor discomfort when it must be clear to all the participating HCPs that women are in agony? Is there an additional and particular correlation between the ages of the majority of women undergoing this, and the attitude they encounter? As in, being menopausal .... the whole 'dried up old hag' thing, so those women are treated less kindly because we don't matter as much?

I had a similar experience, I was being induced & was moved to the Labour ward to have my waters broken. The midwife started to check how dilated I was & did a very thorough sweep without asking before breaking my waters, my mum heard me screaming from the end of the corridor. It felt like she had her arm up to her elbow rammed inside of me. She then proceeded to tell me off for screaming & told me it was nothing compared to what I would be feeling in Labour. I felt like a lump of meat & completely violated.

shearwater2 · 09/05/2024 05:17

CantBelieveNaive · 06/05/2024 19:39

Aw so sorry you have been through this pain and yes the patriarchy really apparent in medical procedures.

Oh god am booked in for one of these in a fortnight. Oh god am totally scared and glad Ive seen this post in equal measure...

Demand a GA. There's no way I'd have one without a GA after reading this.

marriednotdead · 09/05/2024 05:53

Mine was done under GA for post menopausal bleeding. I found the internal scan with the wand uncomfortable enough so there was no way I was going to get it done without one.
It’s utterly barbaric to expect women to undergo this procedure awake. To imply that they are being dramatic about it when they ask for a GA or struggle with the pain is so wrong.

norasand · 09/05/2024 06:25

marriednotdead · 09/05/2024 05:53

Mine was done under GA for post menopausal bleeding. I found the internal scan with the wand uncomfortable enough so there was no way I was going to get it done without one.
It’s utterly barbaric to expect women to undergo this procedure awake. To imply that they are being dramatic about it when they ask for a GA or struggle with the pain is so wrong.

The thing is, many women are ok with them and, if so, a GA is total overkill and an unnecessary risk. What we need, I think, is much a better frank discussion of pain relief options, including proper availability of what lies between a couple of paracetamol and a GA. And then we need an actual choice.

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 09/05/2024 08:20

That sounds horrific and all the stories on here also. I find a smear uncomfortable and also ask for the smaller instrument.
I had your same procedure but was offered ga here in Ireland as told consultant I cannot handle pain as I have sensory issues.
The cannula thing they put in your hand took her at least 4 minutes and was bruised for a week so cannot imagine having my ablation done without ga. Women need to complain as it is intrusive and painful and will put women off having other procedures they need in the future. So sorry you all had to go through such pain.

ColinRobinsonsFart · 09/05/2024 08:26

My first hysteroscopy was in 1994 when DDs were 2 and 6.
The next one was last year.

Both with no GA.
First one I knew I was having a hysteroscopy but last year I thought I was just having a gynae appointment so I didn't have any pain killers before.

I fainted both times.

Barbaric

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 09/05/2024 08:26

After my ablation procedure they really looked after me as I was freezing and had heated air blankets in recovery and had to give me fentanyl and kept me on ward for 2 hours until I recovered and gave me coffee and toast and even had gluten free bread, was shocked.
I don't know how anyone can handle the pain but my pain threshold is very low but I have heard that coil insertion/removal is just awful.

Newgirls · 09/05/2024 08:33

Fucksake what is this brutality? Can we all sign something?

I had a discussion about one but in the end wasn’t needed. It was a female gynae who said it was fine without GA. So glad i didn’t need it and have now read this thread for future knowledge

CulturalNomad · 09/05/2024 15:09

The thing is, many women are ok with them and, if so, a GA is total overkill and an unnecessary risk. What we need, I think, is much a better frank discussion of pain relief options

They could also start with not purposely understating the odds that you could feel significant pain. The current bullshit spiel is "might feel a bit uncomfortable and very rarely actual pain".

And they are fully aware that certain conditions increase the risk that a woman will experience significant pain: never having a vaginal birth, older age/atrophy/cervical stenosis, etc. Women who have these conditions should be warned that they are at increased risk of significant pain.

It really angers me that women are not fully informed before this procedure - it's outrageous! I'm not saying that it must be performed under GA, but you need to know the risks before giving consent and they intentionally downplay this because of cost and expediency. Infuriates me!

JenniferBooth · 09/05/2024 15:16

Speaking of informed consent.......

Someone i know has just had cataract surgery in his right eye and nowhere in the initial NHS letter or texts or phone calls did it say he couldnt drive for a week afterwards, They didnt tell him that till AFTER the procedure. So now he is stuck at home with very low gas and electric because he cant drive to corner shop to top up.
Why cant he walk??? Because he is still waiting for his knee replacement to be done by same NHS and his mobility is fucked due to the (so far) five year wait.
If they had let him know about the not driving BEFORE the procedure he would have topped up extra beforehand. Oh and hes retired so i guess they thought it didnt matter that he couldnt drive for a week despite his limited mobility

Newgirls · 09/05/2024 15:22

Has anyone done actual research on whether women find it ok or awful? How is a woman meant to know until it happening? It’s not good enough. From what women are saying here, it’s universally awful

shearwater2 · 09/05/2024 15:24

Why take the risk of it hurting someone when it obviously does hurt and quite often stop the procedure continuing properly in the majority of cases? Then the cost of having repeat appointments to do it again! Could it not be done at least with decent sedation?

Like with endoscopy, with the second appointment I was sedated properly didn't remember a thing and they could have a look at everything. Surely it would have even from a financial perspective been cheaper to give me a proper sedative the first time than some half arsed thing that didn't work and ended up with me fighting the medical staff. I couldn't help it but it's not particularly nice for them either.

JenniferBooth · 09/05/2024 15:29

@shearwater2 Its the NHS spending a thousand pounds to save a fiver again

Vinvertebrate · 09/05/2024 15:44

Another one here who found it agonising (and there is FA wrong with my pain threshold). I would rather give birth to triplets barefoot in a field than do the procedure again without GA - and that's with their crappy little "local anaesthetic" that did less than nothing. A feminist issue imo - more power to your complaint OP.

Piggywaspushed · 09/05/2024 15:57

If you request GA, how much longer is the wait?

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