"Hysteroscopy, knowing your options."

I was informed by my GP a biopsy was needed due to a thickening to my Uterine lining, that it would be done as an outpatient and it was just like having a coil fitted which I’d never had experienced. 

A text message arrived a couple of days later “reminding” me of my NHS appointment.  It was the first communication I’d received.  I called the Women’s Unit and was informed it was a Hysteroscopy and to take two paracetamol before attending.    The GP said they would prescribe a diazepam tablet as I felt sure it would be really uncomfortable as I have struggled with cervical smear tests in recent years.

Recalling a story told be a BBC news presenters painful experience with coil fitting led me to research the procedure I was due to have and discovered a support group called “Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy” and learnt many post menopausal women can experience terrible pain and so the procedure can be unsuccessful.  

I called the women’s unit again and said I couldn’t have this without some proper sedation and wasn’t going to attend.   I received call back with new appt with Gyne consultant who did internal exam.  I did feel as though I was a bit of a nuisance as was told they do them in outpatients all the time.

On the day I can’t fault how all the staff looked after me from beginning to end and it was performed by a different Gynecologist under a General Anaesthetic as a day patient.

The issue really is that I wasn’t given any information with my options prior to the original appointment.  It is in the guidelines that women should be offered from the outset the choice of general or regional anaesthetic and in my case it wasn’t and I had to find out for myself.   Therefore I would have been unable to give proper informed consent and possibly have had a bad experience.