Some women are being left “traumatised” following a routine gynaecological procedure that is often carried out with minimal pain relief, with one pain expert warning there is an “apathy” within the NHS in changing how it is done.
There are various pain relief options for the procedure, including general anaesthetic. However, campaigners say it is common for women to be told just to take paracetamol before they arrive at the hospital.
Doctors claim this is sufficient pain relief for most patients, however a significant number of women have reported pain so severe that it has left them feeling “traumatised” and “violated”.
Jenny Wade, 51, had a hysteroscopy carried out this year after her GP referred her to Leicester General Hospital to investigate her postmenopausal bleeding.
Ms Wade said she asked if she could have the procedure under general anaesthetic and was told she could, but there would be a wait.
She decided to go ahead with the procedure without the anaesthetic, as she was worried she could have cancer and did not want to delay a diagnosis.
“I’ve never known pain like it. I had tears flooding down my face,” she said describing the procedure.
“It was so traumatic. The only way I can describe the pain is similar to childbirth. I’d say it could have even been worse because I had an epidural during childbirth.”
According to a best practice paper published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists this year, women should be given accurate written and verbal information about hysteroscopies ahead of their appointment, including the various pain control options.
Source: iNews, 4 June 2023
Further reading on the hub:
- My experience of an outpatient hysteroscopy procedure - Patient stories
- Hysteroscopy: 6 calls for action to prevent avoidable harm
- Painful hysteroscopy - hub Community thread)
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