Painful hysteroscopy

Sorry to hear you have been in constant pain. It maybe caused by the coil? Has it been checked since insertion? Usually it would be checked after 6 weeks.  I understand if they are not sitting correctly within the womb or have migrated they can cause pain and bleeding. Worth having this checked. Hope things are sorted for you soon. 

To be honest I have had no contact with either my gp or consultant that did my procedure. I have an appointment that I made to see my gp on the 15th which is exactly 3 months since it was done. I can't get it through my head that I have just been left to feel this way after having such a minor procedure done, if it wast for myself contacting my gp I really thing I would have been left to suffer. Its truly awful how I have been left 

After 6 weeks it is recommended that the threads are checked and still in place. Ask GP or nurse practise to examine you. Ultimately if you are unhappy and feel the coil is the problem you can ask for it to be removed. No one deserves to suffer due to treatment offered. Normally bleeding pain settles 3-6 months according to the manufacturer leaflet. Hope it goes well on 15th. 

A blog has been published today on the hub, about the launch of a new network for patients and clinicians to come together to improve gynaecology experiences:

TIGER UK: A new network for people passionate about improving gynaecology experiences

 

Video shared on Facebook by Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy:

'Pain doesn't discriminate...neither should healthcare '

New video from Dr Gail Busby:

 

I came across this forum after doing some research on hysteroscopies. Following post menopausal bleeding, a transvaginal ultrasound noted numerous large fibroids and my GP has referred me for a hysteroscopy.  I have been told this will be in next fortnight due to the size of the thickness of my womb lining. 
 

I don’t know if this forum is still active but wanted to thank all the women who have shared their stories and to say how sorry I am for the trauma you have endured.  I am truly appalled how we are let down by the medical profession.

I have never had children and experienced very uncomfortable smears which I have been told is due to having a tilted cervix.  Reading all the information from the posts here, I am reassured that I will not be accepting an outpatient appointment for this procedure and will insist on a GA. I have also signed up to the Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy, this group seems to be doing a lot of good work highlighting this issue.

I just wanted to add my experience of a Hysteroscopy. After post menopausal bleeding afted quite a few month of being on HRT, I wanted to take the first possible appointment. The appointment came through in less than a week. The hospital gave me the correct information about pain relief, including options for local or general anaesthetic. I wanted the procedure done quickly so went ahead with the outpatient appointment. No sooner had I sat down in the waiting room. I was called through. The Consultant was fabulous, like chatting to a friend (albeit a knowledgeable friend thankfully 😅). I knew it was going to be painful I was also offered gas and air, and but I’m not good on it so refused it initially, but had it on standby. I have to say the procedure was really quick. The first part with the camera was painful but the second part more painful. I asked ‘how long now’, the Consultant said ‘nearly done’ and as she said it she was done. It was very intense, but really fast. I was feeling glad I’d tolerated it. However, once I was about to get dressed, I started to feel faint. The next thing I was being asked if was back with them. They checked me over but unfortunately I went into Cervical Shock - (I’d never heard of it until after the event). My blood pressure dropped and my heart rate dropped. The Consultant and Nurses were quickly reacting. I was rushed to the Gynae ward and a team were helping me. Once treated I started to slowly settle, I was in the gynae ward all day for observations and was able to go home in the evening. Apparently it is something that happens to a few people but it is rare. I have now been instructed that for any procedures going forward, I need to have them done under general anaesthetic. I wanted to share this not to scare people (most on here have already had a Hysteroscopy anyway, but to say 2 things;

I got through the procedure ok, I was able to tolerate the pain, knowing it would be over quickly and whilst I know that isn’t everybody’s experience, it was mine and knowing it might help someone. 
 

I had a very unfortunate and thankfully rare after reaction. BUT every member of staff that helped me was absolutely amazing and just the people you want around you when things go badly wrong. I was so so grateful. Later in the afternoon the Consultant came back to the ward to explained properly what had happened. She had only had it happen to one person before, which shows it isn’t something everyone needs to worry about. They are a great team and worked well together. 

On 12/07/2025 at 20:12, harrisestate1 said:

I just wanted to add my experience of a Hysteroscopy. After post menopausal bleeding afted quite a few month of being on HRT, I wanted to take the first possible appointment. The appointment came through in less than a week. The hospital gave me the correct information about pain relief, including options for local or general anaesthetic. I wanted the procedure done quickly so went ahead with the outpatient appointment. No sooner had I sat down in the waiting room. I was called through. The Consultant was fabulous, like chatting to a friend (albeit a knowledgeable friend thankfully 😅). I knew it was going to be painful I was also offered gas and air, and but I’m not good on it so refused it initially, but had it on standby. I have to say the procedure was really quick. The first part with the camera was painful but the second part more painful. I asked ‘how long now’, the Consultant said ‘nearly done’ and as she said it she was done. It was very intense, but really fast. I was feeling glad I’d tolerated it. However, once I was about to get dressed, I started to feel faint. The next thing I was being asked if was back with them. They checked me over but unfortunately I went into Cervical Shock - (I’d never heard of it until after the event). My blood pressure dropped and my heart rate dropped. The Consultant and Nurses were quickly reacting. I was rushed to the Gynae ward and a team were helping me. Once treated I started to slowly settle, I was in the gynae ward all day for observations and was able to go home in the evening. Apparently it is something that happens to a few people but it is rare. I have now been instructed that for any procedures going forward, I need to have them done under general anaesthetic. I wanted to share this not to scare people (most on here have already had a Hysteroscopy anyway, but to say 2 things;

I got through the procedure ok, I was able to tolerate the pain, knowing it would be over quickly and whilst I know that isn’t everybody’s experience, it was mine and knowing it might help someone. 
 

I had a very unfortunate and thankfully rare after reaction. BUT every member of staff that helped me was absolutely amazing and just the people you want around you when things go badly wrong. I was so so grateful. Later in the afternoon the Consultant came back to the ward to explained properly what had happened. She had only had it happen to one person before, which shows it isn’t something everyone needs to worry about. They are a great team and worked well together. 

Thank you for sharing your experience. That sounds very frightening and has just increased my resolve to insist on sedation/GA. 
 

I don’t know why it still astonishes me that women are expected to go through these procedures without adequate pain relief.

Thanks @harrisestate1 for sharing your experience. Very reassuring to know that you had excellent support after this rare event. Must have been a real shock and very alarming. 

Just to give an update. I had my outpatient appointment yesterday. Specialist nurse I spoke with was lovely, knowledgeable and agreed that not all women can tolerate the procedure without adequate pain relief. 
 

i don’t believe any women should go through this or any other barbaric gynae procedure without pain control.

 

i am now waiting for appointment to go in with either sedation or GA.

 

thank you to all the women here who shared their stories to allow me to make an informed decision on my health.

Please see request below from a student at Georgia Tech looking for patients to survey who have undergone hysteroscopy procedures. If interested please contact Sharayu directly.

My name is Sharayu Senthilkumar, and I’m an engineering student at Georgia Tech working with a team on a hysteroscope design project. As part of our research, we’re looking to interview patients who have undergone hysteroscopic procedures to better understand current device needs, challenges, and the patient experience.

We would like to connect us with one or more patients who would be open to a short interview (about 20–30 minutes). We are happy to accommodate your availability and conduct the conversation in whatever format is most convenient—whether in person, by phone, or via video call.

Your support would be invaluable in helping us design a device that addresses real clinical needs. 

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

If interested please email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Five years on from my painful and harrowing hysteroscopy I still can't face medical procedures.

Just cancelled home bowel screening again as I know I wouldn't be listened to if I had to have a colonoscopy.

I do not trust NHS staff to tell the truth or that they would stop a procedure if I was in too much pain.

Just wonder what other women have done when faced with other endoscopy procedures and what impact their response has had; did the NHS even care?

56 minutes ago, Carrie said:

Just wonder what other women have done when faced with other endoscopy procedures and what impact their response has had; did the NHS even care?

I’m so sorry to hear of how badly your barbaric hysteroscopy has affected you. I’m a member of the Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy, ( CAPH ) and I can assure you that sadly, you are far from alone in reacting by avoiding any other diagnostic procedures as a result of your experience. I had a hysteroscopy with no pain relief or sedation in 2006, having previously had one under a general anaesthetic at the same time as a laparoscopy, and not only was I never a candidate for the procedure, I certainly did not give my informed consent, nor can I ever forget it. I was gaslighted into believing that my experience was as rare as hen’s teeth, and blamed for passing out. However, the result of my experience is that I will never, ever give my consent to any procedure without doing extensive research beforehand. I don’t trust HCPs to tell the truth, and I was a practicing RN when I had the hysteroscopy. 

What I would say is that as colonoscopies are also carried out on men, then the possibility of pain is actually taken into account. My husband has had numerous colonoscopies, and has always been given adequate sedation and pain relief. Indeed, the first question that he is asked in the telephone pre - assessment is if he would like sedation, which has always been accompanied by pain relief. I believe that a woman would also be asked the same questions. 
Please don’t let your awful experience of hysteroscopy put you off having what could possibly be a life - saving procedure, should it be necessary.

I've just got home from my hysteroscopy appointment. I'd like to start off by saying that everyone I saw today was lovely and couldn't be faulted. That being said, it goes down as the most painful experience I've ever had. I went into the appointment thinking it would be a little painful but that I would be fine. I have a high pain threshold and I had taken two codeine tablets an hour before. The consultant injected a local anaesthetic into the cervix (relatively painless) and then proceeded with the camera. This was where things began to hurt. The consultant asked me several times if I was ok and did I wish to stop. I asked him to keep going as I really wanted to push through and get it done. When I saw on the screen that the camera was inside the womb, I thought the worst was over but I couldn't have been more wrong. I have a large submucosal fibroid which takes up most of the womb. As fluid was pumped in to make more space, the pain became unbearable. The camera was only able to advance a short distance before I couldn't take anymore and the procedure had to be halted. I am so cross with myself for not being able to push through the pain, but it really was on another level. I had a colonoscopy last year and refused the offered sedation. It was uncomfortable and a little painful, but nothing compared to today. I questioned this with the consultant, and he said that's completely different, a hysteroscopy is a much more painful procedure. My question would be, why then, is sedation the norm for a colonoscopy, but for a hysteroscopy (recognised as being much more painful) woman are told to 'just take a couple of paracetamol before you arrive'.  I would be happy to never hear the word hysteroscopy again, but the consultant has booked me in to have the procedure under a general anaesthetic as he really wants to get a biopsy. In summary, the staff were amazing, and stopped the moment I said it was too much, but the procedure was incredibly painful and really shouldn't be downplayed by likening it to period pain that may need a couple of paracetamol...

How awful, I'm so sorry it wsa so ghastly for you. I agree, it is inequitable, why some procudures routinely offer sedation and others don't. Convention and geneder bias I guess. It's not good enough.