"Hysteroscopy felt like a horrible production line"

It has taken me nearly 16 months to write this, and took me months after the procedure in January 2023 to go to my GP for help.

I attended gynaecology at ARI with my husband for a hysteroscopy, having taken paracetamol beforehand as advised to help with the "period like cramps" I may suffer.

The doctor seemed to be in a great rush, and just said I looked very nervous, which I was, as I was recovering from breast cancer surgery only 2 months previously. They spoke with me very briefly about the procedure, then I had to lie down on the bed.

There were 2 other nurses in the room, one assisting and the other one trying to chat and distract me while the gynaecologist was working. I was not given any pain relief for what can only be described as a form of torture, and thank god they didn't find any fibroids which would have been removed at the same time.

I was groaning and close to tears and did say aloud that it was extremely painful. All they said was that I would need an injection into my cervix (which was horrific) to enable the camera to be inserted and carried on. Meanwhile, the nurse was telling me how well I was doing, while I am lying there in tears now and absolute agony. It could only have lasted a short time, but felt like it was hours.

I would like to think that I have quite a high pain threshold, and have had 2 natural births with little to no pain relief, but this horrible procedure can only be described as barbaric. I only discovered later on that I could have had the hysteroscopy done while under GA, but this was never mentioned or offered to me.

Months later I made an appointment with my GP as I was suffering due to after effects of the hysteroscopy. She was shocked and very angry when I told her what had happened, and she diagnosed me with PTSD and vaginismus as a result of this procedure.

Something desperately needs to be done about this horrific procedure, and women should be told that it can be done under GA. I felt like I was on a production line, and they couldn't get me out of the consulting room quickly enough, and get the next poor soul in. Absolute disgrace.