"Colposcopy with surprise LLETZ"

his feedback isnt intended to cause distress to anyone awaiting a colposcopy at St Johns but these are my experiences.

I had a colposcopy in February 2025, 48 weeks after I was referred following a 2nd abnormal/HPV positive smear over 2 years. The waiting time guidelines show I should have been seen within 18 weeks.

The 1st colposcopy was excruciatingly painful. I have scar tissue from surgeries and vaginal birth, and even smear tests are agonising. At no point was pain relief offered or suggested. During this colposcopy I had biopsies taken, some sort of solution placed on my cervix and the doctor needed a 2nd opinion and went to go get another doctor mid way through. I was crying in pain but being told I was doing so well, to take big deep breaths etc etc. The doctor told me I had a very small amount of superficial cell changes, and that I was most likely not going to need further treatment.

I was in agony for the next 2 days, I had to stay off work and could barely carry out my everyday tasks. I was then surprised to receive a text and e-letter inviting me to another colposcopy appointment. This time, I took strong painkillers prior to the appointment due to the previous agony I had endured.

I had the face to face short chat with the Doctor before treatment, and I asked how long it would take, and mentioned my previous pain, discomfort and effect on my ability to perform normal tasks. She mentioned that she'd give me a local anaesthetic before taking a biopsy- I queried this, as the appointment was for a colposcopy and it was my understanding that I would only be invited back if removal of cells was needed (I had researched this information myself as I was told very little about follow on in the 1st appointment as the doctor was pretty certain I would not need any further visits).

The doctor drew a small circle on some paper and said it was the size of the biopsy they took the previous time, then drew another larger circle, and said that this is the size of the biopsy they'd need to take this time. We then headed down to the treatment room, and I prepared for the procedure. Again, I reminded the doctor and the nurse of the pain I had experienced last time.

The procedure began, and the doctor told me not to worry about the sound of the machine beeping, and advised it would sound like a vacuum. I had not been told any machine would be needed, I was simply told this was a biopsy. Despite having a local anaesthetic, I felt everything, I couldn't talk much, and cried most of the way through. It was pain in line with that of childbirth.

Afterwards I sat up slowly and the nurse handed me two sheets of paper, one advising me of the after care following a LLETZ procedure and the other on a follow up smear test in 6 months. I was shocked, nobody told me prior to having this done that I was having LLETZ. I told the nurse I was in agony and that if any other treatment was needed I would need to be anaesthetised. I mentioned that every other scope I had in the last 18 months offered sedation or pain relief, and how doing this with neither of these an option, was barbaric.

My issues are nobody informed me of the treatment/procedure I was about to have, no pain relief or other options for the procedure are offered and simply it's 2025, we need to have more respect and care for womens health.