Painful examination

[SophieA]

Hello ladies,

I wanted to ask to see whether many people have had similar experiences with an examination...

I was referred to a consultant after an ultrasound scan showed that I have 2 big chocolate cysts on each ovary, suspected stage 4 endo. I had a really bad experience with the consultant who was rude and insensitive to me from the start but who then gave me an internal pelvic examination. I have had lots of cervical screenings in the past which have been uncomfortable but okay. He didn't tell me that it would be painful, but it was awful. The night after the consultation I was in absolute agony through the night and nothing I tried eased it. After that, the pain has been really quite bad for a few months, worse than it has been and I wondered whether it was connected to this.

I put in a complaint saw another consultant who gave me Prostrap injections so I've been pain-free for a couple of months and I am now seeing a private specialist who is amazing. When I mentioned to him that the pain had worsened after the examination he said "that can happen". This made me wonder, why is it that examinations would be recommended by guidelines at all, especially as I then went on to have an MRI anyway. I wondered whether many others have had a similar experience as I wonder whether examinations are really necessary especially if they can be so painful and have lasting effects. I'd really appreciate hearing if anyone else has had a similar experience with a pelvic examination.

Thanks, xx

[E-JSmith]

Hi,

Yes a also had a painful manual examination (after transvaginal and abdominal ultrasounds). I wasn't expecting the consulate to literally shove his fingers around my vagina and uterus, I was in agony as you said. I had a nurse and student in the room and the student was the only one that asked (mouthed) if I was okay to which I replied NO shaking my head. It was extremely traumatic.

[SophieA in reply to E-JSmith]

That's awful. Yep, I had exactly the same thing, the consultant was completely oblivious and when he'd done he shock his head and said "awful" then walked off without any explanation. The nurse who was with him looked like she was about to cry which freaked me out even more. I just wonder why with it being so painful and having lasting effects it is necessary. I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience, shocking that it was only the student who checked on you.

[E-JSmith in reply to SophieA]

WHAT! What happened to professionalism. I understand this is these people's every day jobs and they're human as well, but you never know what it's like unless you've been in that position. I wasn't happy about it at all and your experience sounds even worse! They only thing the consultant found from the physical exam was that I had a retroverted uterus, which they probably could've seen any way by going in, I understand it's good to have that skill in case you don't have the technology (and there's probably a protocol they have to follow because surgery is expensive and they need valid reason for resources) but there's gotta be some more training GP to patient (especially for male doctors as OBGYN's and even some women OBGYNs...matter of fact just the field of medicine itself). Not downgrading the health professionals or their training or the NHS, but there seems to be a pattern of little - no explanation and a lot of pain.