"Hysteroscopy Out-Patient"

I recently underwent an out-patient hysteroscopy following some suspicious pelvic and transvaginal scans. I am peri-menopausal, and have had one vaginal childbirth.

I received no information on the procedure beforehand, just a brief phone call from the hospital to say it would be similar to a smear test; followed by the appointment letter. In the absence of any information, I researched the procedure myself using the NHS website and took the advised paracetamol / ibuprofen before arrival. On the day I wasn't asked to sign any consent form or the like.  I just had to give a urine sample on arrival.

After a long wait in reception I was called into a small anteroom with a strange cut-out tilting chair with a bucket underneath. I know I was anxious, but in my high alert state it seemed a very alarming set up. After explaining that I have panic attacks, and worried that this environment could be a trigger, my husband came into the room with me (otherwise I think I'd have ran back out again). They gave me a sheet to wrap around my naked bottom half, no gown with a fastening was available.  I did not receive any pain relief or anaesthesia.

I was really frightened as I saw the Hysteroscope and thought how on earth is that going to get through my cervix and into my uterus!  I like to think that I've a good pain threshold; but this was like nothing I've ever experienced. I felt the Hysteroscope break through my cervix (this made me cry out in pain), and then saline was pumped into my uterus and that was extremely unpleasant. I was deep breathing to try to control myself but I couldn't stop crying and shaking with the shock of it all. I felt such distress that I couldn't speak. It was a terrible deep searing / dragging pain.

 The nurse held my hand while my husband held the other but I have to say that it was the most frightening experience I've ever been through. I looked up at my husband who was comforting me and I could see tears in his eyes too. The doctor said that all appeared ok, but took some biopsies just to double check. That cutting into my womb hurt a great deal. They then put in a Mirena coil which I had agreed to just before the procedure started, as the doctor said it would help alleviate my heavy periods and thickened womb lining.  

No one said that I may experience such intense pain during the Hysteroscopy, just likely some period type pain.  This comparison is not accurate at all.  Straight after the procedure I was asked to get dressed and my husband helped me out of the room and I sat down in the reception area trying to hide my distress from the other people waiting in there. I eventually felt able to walk back to the car and my husband drove me home.

I have to say that I've been left feeling horrible after all this and I can’t stop thinking about it. I will never undergo a Hysteroscopy procedure in this way again.  I’m also already very frightened about when the Mirena coil will need to be removed … and that’s 4 or 5 years in the future. The fear of any future internal procedures is now very real, and I find this sad as I’ve never had any concerns about undergoing these in the past.

This Hysteroscopy is such a brutal outpatient procedure and I can't believe that there's no pain relief or anaesthesia offered.  I was bleeding and cramping for some considerable time afterwards, and I still feel a bit of a wreck.  5 years ago I underwent a gastroscopy with bowel biopsies taken in order to diagnose my Coeliac Disease; conscious sedation and pain relief was offered without having to ask for it, and I was treated with dignity and fully informed every step of the way. Family members have had colonoscopies, and received conscious sedation and pain relief. It is incomprehensible that the same does not apply to the Hysteroscopy procedure.

I felt I needed to get my Hysteroscopy experience written down to try help me make sense of it, whilst wondering if this is the norm?  I’m so confused if it is. I felt embarrassed by my crying and shaking … but it was shockingly painful. It's also left me feeling upset that this may be happening to other women who are already worried about their health and need to know if there’s anything wrong internally; and, like me, believe that there’s no option other than having to go through this ordeal.

This is just my personal experience and I do appreciate that there may be other women who have had a different experience to mine.  Even so, regardless of any data collected about this procedure, I find it unacceptable for any woman to be expected to bear this terrible pain and trauma.