Hysteroscopy

I had a hysteroscopy nearly a year ago due to spotting. It wasn’t very pleasant but it turned out that I had endometrial cancer. A hysterectomy was performed along with the removal of ovaries plus the head of my cervix and I needed no further treatment.
Heaven only knows how I’d be now without the hysteroscopy.
My message would be that half an hour of discomfort could save your life.
I was however told exactly how the procedure would be carried out and I had a lovely nurse talk me through it.

How awful, I am sure if it was a man’s problem it would be different. I am due to have an internal scan of the womb, had one once before, I had no idea of how it was done, it was just lie down, legs apart and whoosh. The dr talked to the nurse as though I wasn’t there, it was awful. Due for another one which has been delayed because I have asked for a female dr to perform it.

Absolutely agree - it is a vital procedure.

But my beef was with the way it was conducted. Apparently some women experience mild discomfort whilst others extreme pain, and that is what I find so abhorrent.

Imo sedation should be routine, because if the risk of such pain and the consequent feeling of violation can be avoided, they should make every effort to do so.

That was to mousybrown

I had an hysterectomy a few years ago. Also without sedation. No problem whatsoever. A little discomfort during the procedure but no pain. I watched everything on the screen beside me, finding it very interesting. The consultant, her registrar and the nurse were wonderfully kind and efficient. They explained what had caused my problem and put my mind at rest. I wouldn't hesitate to undergo this procedure again, should it be necessary. I think the bad experience quoted is the exception rather than the rule.

I have had 2 hysteroscopies years ago and was given sedation both times. It's a shocking disgrace to be offered nothing at all.

It's the same lack of care when having a contraceptive coil fitted. I passed out and when I came round, they had removed the coil so I'd gone through all that for nothing.

Women are treated like pieces of meat. Men would not put up with it.

Aldom I had an hysterectomy a few years ago. Also without sedation. No problem

You surely don't mean a "hysterectomy" but a "hysteroscopy".

Spsrklefizz Glad you noticed
Blame preemptive text for the mistake. However, I emphasise that not every hysteroscoscopy is traumatic and I have never been treated like a piece of meat. Not even when I had an hysterectomy, with a general anesthetic of course.

sorry Sparklefizz what am I like????

I don't think it should be me necessary to have to put up with pain, when something can be done to ease it.

Be me?
Oh...

I had this done a few years ago... excruciating and frightening... I am nobodys woose but this was utterly horrendous.. no pain relief/ sedation offered.
Absolutely no way will this be happening again without general anesthetic..brutal!
And no... men would NOT be treated this way!

I'm a terrible coward about these sorts of things, and I'm sure it's due to having had laser treatment years ago.
I stupidly believed to blurb that said if the pain level was unacceptable then they would stop.

I had the same awful experience. I passed out twice, my blood pressure dropped through the floor and I was unable to speak to tell him to stop. I suffered pain and blood loss for months afterwards.. I later found out I should never have been considered a candidate to have this procedure done as an outpatient, without pain relief or sedation.

It will be a cold day in hell before I trust a gynaecologist again.

How awful to treat women to this without an anesthetic. It is not respectful to subject women to this level of pain. Men wouldn’t stand being treated like this if it were them.

Maybe I didn’t have the same treatment, hysteroscoscopy, but to clean my womb, I have had it done at least twice, a general anesthetic was given when my ? was inflated. I had a night stay in hospital. It was many years ago and I am not in the UK.

I've had three hysteroscopies and can't fault the way I was treated. The doctor explained everything clearly. There was one nurse looking after me & another assisting the doctor.

I don't think it is explained properly beforehand, it is dressed up as a procedure and I don't think people expect it be in a surgical theatre with so many health professionals. I have wondered how you ask for it to stopped too because once it is underway you are sort of held hostage legs akimbo for well over an hour in most cases.

Can I just say, as women we mustn't minimise other women's feelings or pain just because things were ok for ourselves.

I must have been lucky as I had it done as day surgery under a general anaesthetic following which I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. I then went into hospital for a full hysterectomy within a fortnight of diagnosis.

It is fairly common to experience severe pain with a hysteroscopy. I think women are expected to put up with pain far more than men which is not right. Sedation should be offered routinely.

Can I just say, as women we mustn't minimise other women's feelings or pain just because things were ok for ourselves

Hear hear JaneJudge

I'd have to demand a general anaesthetic if I needed anything like that - or I simply wouldn't be able to face having it done. I wonder if an MRI scan would be an alternative? I'd rather pay for something less invasive.

I don't even have smear tests since my experience, really.

I have had perhaps, four or five, but this is since the 80s.

Hetty58

I'd have to demand a general anaesthetic if I needed anything like that - or I simply wouldn't be able to face having it done. I wonder if an MRI scan would be an alternative? I'd rather pay for something less invasive.

they usually have to take biopsies of the womb lining and any other stuff they find in there (polyps/fibroids etc)

JaneJudge, oh, I see - well, here's hoping I never get any symptoms then. Maybe there's a lot of women out there just putting up with things, rather than risking tests. I do agree that men wouldn't be expected to endure anything like it.