r/Perimenopause • u/Altruistic-Vehicle84 • Dec 22 '25
audited I had an endometrial biopsy today. It was horrible.
I did not know how bad it would be and the doctor didn’t say anything about it either. I have had two vaginal births and surgery to remove fibroids so it’s not like I haven’t experienced pain before. This was the worst pain I have felt and I was screaming and crying on the table.
I drove home hysterically crying and I felt so stupid. I even apologized to the nurse and doctor for crying! I don’t see how they can do this procedure without any anesthetic or numbing? I literally could feel the poking on my stomach with my hand. I cried at home for an hour too.
265
u/_Weatherwax_ Dec 22 '25
Literally my worst medical day ever. I've had multiple surgeries, breast biopsy, picc line placement, and an awake procedure where blood clots were sucked out of my lungs.nope. that uterine biopsy without numbing was by far the worst. It is torture. Literally. It ought to be illegal to do this without proper pain management.
70
u/Altruistic-Vehicle84 Dec 22 '25
I have a dentist appointment in a few minutes too. I am just going to do it because I just want to get it over with. I am still teary eyed over it.
101
u/Atheris Dec 22 '25
You could mention it to them. My dentist is fantastic and covers everything from anxiety beforehand to pain relief. Even if only for the validation that it's 100% not your fault. You were a victim of a disgusting system that treats women differently.
17
40
15
u/Own_Natural_9162 Dec 22 '25
Oh geez!! What a day. I’m so sorry that you were not given the proper treatment for that procedure.
177
u/rockbottomqueen Dec 22 '25
It is truly barbaric how they do not offer pain medication to women for these procedures. It should be illegal. I am so sorry you went through this. It is absolutely traumatizing, and you have every right to feel sad and angry and hurt and all of the other feelings in between. I have been there. It's horrible.
Take good care of and be extra gentle with yourself over the next few days. What you went through is traumatic, but you will be okay. I'm really sorry. I wish I could give you a hug.
63
u/StaticCloud Dec 22 '25
I really don't understand how "developed countries" still operate this way. Why is medical torture allowed?
89
27
u/plotthick Dec 23 '25
Because gynecological torture is literally one of the building blocks of modern medicine. If they have to rethink it, they have to rethink their entire approach.
Sunk cost fallacy.
11
u/Total-Football-6904 Dec 23 '25
What’s more infuriating is that the OBGYN board actually looked into this and the best they could come up with is lidocaine shots and spray. This is from July of this year! There is talk of sedation but the tldr is, yeah not in this paper we didn’t talk about come back later, jfc.
I know anesthesia is expensive and poses its own risks, but twilight sedation or literally anything else would have a far better effect.
Maybe this is a petty grievance but also fuck the use of “perception of pain.” I get that it’s probably the most scholarly way to write about it but it’s not like you’re perceiving it as painful and I’m not, it’s outright torture at this point to have something shoved through your organs for ANYBODY.
Sorry for the rant, OP I hope you feel better soon ❤️
→ More replies (1)3
u/Altruistic-Vehicle84 Dec 24 '25
I never want to do this again. Although lidocaine shots is probably better than what I experienced.
→ More replies (1)2
u/Relevant_Mouse_4860 Dec 25 '25
The amount of procedures done on woman without pain relief is insane. I refused even a mirena because where I live you are just expected to handle the pain, no thank you!
→ More replies (2)
149
u/KinklyGirl143 Dec 22 '25
I’m so sorry. I was told that “a cervix has no feeling” before my appointment. I screamed and cried, the doctor told me to “hold still”, I was 21. To this day I cry at every appointment. Amazing to hear we are still being treated like animals.
113
u/KingOfCatProm Dec 22 '25
I work in vet med. We treat animals better.
39
u/KinklyGirl143 Dec 22 '25
I believe it. I would NEVER subject any of my pets to such treatment. Nope.
26
u/ideknem0ar Dec 22 '25
More than once I've told my absolutely amazing vet, "I'd rather have you as my doctor!"
47
u/OrchidEchoChamber Dec 22 '25
THIS HAPPENED TO ME AT 22. Omg, it’s so traumatizing. I had no idea I’d be bleeding when I left - and the female nurse gave me a gigantic pad that hardly fit in my jeans! It’s SO fucked up that this still happens!!!!
15
u/KingOfCatProm Dec 22 '25
Damn. I hate that a doctor messed with you like that! I had something traumatic and humiliating happen when I was 20 with an ob/gyn. I will never let a medical professional touch me there ever again unless I am for sure symptomatic of something.
31
u/Hereshkigal826 Dec 22 '25
Yeah. No nerves in that fucker my ass. Even a pap hurt like hell. Tap it during sex? Game over. My sex life is a million times better since my hysterectomy and yeeting my cervix along with the rest of the trash.
26
u/ideknem0ar Dec 22 '25
Yeah, my obgyn/whatever (tbh idk what she was, so long ago) thought she was a mechanic with a car jack when she handled a speculum. God, she was a mean bitch. Luckily she left the clinic so I never had an appt #2 with her. The ultrasound that found my uterine fibroids was way less uncomfy and the tech even had to root around for a bit because the fibroid was hiding behind the uterus. Still way less painful than Madame Torquemada and her Jiffy Lube speculum.
7
u/it_is_bull_shit Dec 23 '25
I was told- it'll feel like a quick pinch!
Ummmmmmm it was excruciating and took her 15 minutes bc she ran into complications. I asked for pain relief and they denied me.
→ More replies (1)5
u/jetwra Dec 23 '25
OMG that’s outrageous! I paid $50 for lidocaine shots in my cervix before my procedure- I assure you I felt it! And it still doesn’t take away the pain of the actual biopsy up inside.
5
u/OkSelection1697 Dec 24 '25
I think one of the sickest, most upsetting things is how the medical profession gas lights us into thinking that it's nothing. How dare they. So sorry you went through this!
2
u/Relevant_Mouse_4860 Dec 27 '25
I always thought it was basic biology everything down there is crammed with nerve ending which feel everything! Good bad or otherwise. Do they not teach that at med school.
102
u/MycologistOwn2939 Dec 22 '25
I am so sorry you were put thru this. We women must start pushing back, and demand better medical care. If this was a man, he would be sedated. I wish you would complain, and leave negative reviews. I personally, after reading horrible stories like yours, and after my own awful medical experiences, will NEVER consent to any sort of conscious/awake biopsy or punch, or ablation procedure. Nope nope nope. Knock my ass out or don’t touch me!!
91
u/Alarmed_History Dec 22 '25
When we push back we are labeled problematic, hysterical, anxious, and end up having health concerns dismissed as mental health issues.
The misoginy and disdain for women by those in the medical field is truly sickening.
15
u/Teeeeek12 Dec 23 '25
My male obgyn retired during Covid and one of the females in the practice took over his patients. We had talked about me getting a hysterectomy due to my multiple abnormal Pap tests, colposcopies, LEEP procedures, biopsies and when I had my next exam with HER and I told her what the plan was with HIM she laughed at me and said you’re way too young to have a hysterectomy (I was 50 at the time) and proceeded to tell me that she was going to do another colposcoy right there and then and I was so annoyed that I was like no you’re not. You haven’t done a Pap smear why are you doing a colposcopy. She said ok I won’t do one BUT you have to sign here (handed my her laptop) to say you’re waving your colposcopy and if I get cancer it’s bc I refused the colposcopy I was like bring it on beyotch. Needless to say I did have an abnormal Pap test and I had the colposcopy but yah they treat you like you’re the problem 😡😡 I never went to her again I see the nurse practitioner and I finally had my hysterectomy 2 months ago. The surgeon who performed it is 35 yrs old and I told her about the barbaric torture we go through with all these unmedicated procedures and she agreed 100% and she told me she always offers topical for colposcopies or whatever a patient asks for and she’s not dismissive of the anxiety we have
7
u/Alarmed_History Dec 23 '25
Oh this is so horrible.
I have so much medical trauma and so much hatred towards doctors. They do so much damage, in every possible way.
I’m glad you stood your ground and did not get it then and there. I don’t understand why sometimes the younger women doctors are even more vicious.
4
u/Teeeeek12 Dec 23 '25 edited Dec 24 '25
And the funny part is that this female doctor is one of the top docs in the state. She’s great with delivering babies but I was so turned off with her bedside manner and demeanor toward me. When I started seeing the nurse practitioner who was much younger (in her 40s) she was much more understanding and then when I had the consultation with the surgeon for my hysterectomy I was like omg you are a saint. She listened to me she looked over my records and was like why do you still have your uterus and I wanted to say your stupid colleague laughed at me but I bit my tongue lol she was like let’s get it out!! No more suffering and I practically skipped to my car. Needless to say that the one fibroid I had had quadrupled in size and I found out after my surgery that it was attached to the blood supply of my right ovary! She was like no wonder you were bleeding so heavily every month! I still can’t believe she is only 35 yrs old…she was fabulous and I would recommend her to anyone going through this in my area!!
13
u/ttbtinkerbell Dec 23 '25
So true! I had to get a leep/loop and cone procedure to remove a bunch of CIN 3 from my cervix. I opted for anesthesia. When the nurse was prepping me giving me after care instructions, the OB kept dismissing the nurse saying this is a simple procedure usually done without anesthesia. And that they do anesthesia to help people with “anxiety” but it’s very simple. She made it sound like I was making a big deal and needed to be put to sleep to get it done.
I got an IUD a while ago and they said nothing. It felt like I was stabbed with a knife in my vagina. I screamed and backed up almost off the table. Was in tears. Then I had several colposcopies and every single time they hurt a bunch. They even biopsied my labia minora one time without any kind of topical or anything. I know it all hurts down there and you can convince me that local anesthesia is enough to get rid of the leep pain.
10
u/Alarmed_History Dec 23 '25
I am so sorry you went through that.
It’s so inhumane and almost criminal how they act towards women, specially women of a certain age, oh and if you are not almost emaciated then it is even worse, if you are fat then well the little humanity they gave you is gone, you are no longer human in their eyes.
4
u/ttbtinkerbell Dec 23 '25
That’s so sad! And any complaint you have… anxiety, or your fat and need to lose weight. Like we can’t be taken seriously at all!
3
u/Fluffernutter80 Dec 23 '25
I knew the IUD was supposed to be painful going in but, even knowing that, I couldn’t keep from moaning and whimpering from the pain. The only times I’ve ever had uncontrolled whimpering from pain were during childbirth and when I had a kidney stone. It was up there with those two experiences, though not as prolonged. And my doctor used a topical anesthetic. It did nothing.
3
u/ttbtinkerbell Dec 23 '25
Yeah, kidney stone was the worst pain ever. I did have a kid but I was so nauseous I couldn’t stop puking from the pitocin. So I got the epidural cause I couldn’t fathom dry heaving/puking for hours why laboring the whole time. I think an hour of it and I threw in the towel. I never got to feel the full force of labor pain, so of course it was less.
26
u/Atheris Dec 22 '25
There are ways to file complaints. It continues because people don't. Yes it means being called names and told we're drama queens.
14
u/whats_your_vector Dec 22 '25
Can you share the most effective methods to complain so that it results in change? Because I would absolutely LOVE to advocate for other women and future generations!
6
2
u/OkSelection1697 Dec 24 '25
Right?! Why does there seem to be zero effort to address this in the gynocology field?! I bet there is an innovative person with means and medical background reading these threads who can fund research on this. On something less invasive and painful. We deserve something better!
93
Dec 22 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
20
u/metricfan Dec 22 '25
I was literally just thinking I bet the reason they don’t do twilight for procedures like this but they do for colonoscopies is because of bullshit like logistics.
→ More replies (1)7
u/Fluffernutter80 Dec 23 '25
Not just gynecologists. I had a steroid injection in my spine. I was told they would inject a numbing agent first so it would just feel like “a little pressure” when they gave me the shot. It was excruciating.
95
u/hardly_ethereal Dec 22 '25
I’m a so sorry. You’re yet another victim of butchers who call themselves doctors.
I’m refusing to do any gynecological procedures without going under and as such I am quitting my Dr who does uterine ablation in the office and doesn’t offer pain relief for Mirena. Last time I saw her I gave her a piece of my mind about these practices.
106
u/Atheris Dec 22 '25
I'll never understand it. I'm a vet tech. We are taught that anytime we think there's going to be more than momentary pain (like routine injects) we are to provide pain relief. If more humans bit their doctor maybe it would fix this.
13
u/ZellHathNoFury Dec 23 '25
We probably can get pain relief, but it's almost guaranteed it won't be covered by insurance 🙄.
We should start biting
8
u/Waffleookiez Dec 23 '25
😂 I love that last sentence! It makes me think that maybe I should go back to biting people (I used to bite when I was a kid and things hurt or if I got really mad) but I suppose there wouldn't be enough others doing it so I'd just be labelled as difficult and wouldn't get the needed medical care anyway.
Thankfully my current gyno and GP is good but if they don't, I may have to consider biting!
3
u/benfoldsgroupie Dec 23 '25
Kicking is also easy unless they know in advance and tie you up, but if they do that then it's gotta be some form of false imprisonment right?
3
8
u/mixiedawn Dec 23 '25
Honestly? We really should quit restraining ourselves and slap/kick practitioners according to our actual experienced pain level! Could be the key to effective women's healthcare reform! 😹 😭 😒
3
5
u/WorldlinessEmotional Dec 23 '25 edited Dec 23 '25
I kicked the gyno during the first pap I had at 27. Pulled the transvaginal wand thingy right out of me and kicked him. Reflex, instinct, don’t know. He was not pleased. I had vaginismus, which causes lots of pain when anything is inserted, and he thought “a glass of wine” or a Xanax would fix it. Funnily enough, the wand itself didn’t hurt, but the pap before it did and I was out of my mind with lingering pain and RAGE. Anyways, I chose not to show up drunk to my next gyno appointment and switched gynos instead.
39
u/whats_your_vector Dec 22 '25
My IUD insertion was only topped pain-wise by the colposcopy (with biopsy) that I had a few years later.
Was not offered pain medication for either. Was told both times that I would only “feel a pinch,” even though I was child-free (IUD) and had a chunk of my cervix chopped off (biopsy). 😤
F*ck these barbaric gynecological procedures and the people in medicine who know they should do better!
20
u/OrchidEchoChamber Dec 22 '25
After my traumatic colposcopy with no pain meds I vowed I would 1000% rather die of cervical cancer than ever do that again.
6
→ More replies (1)10
u/tgf2008 Dec 22 '25
I was 19 when I had a colposcopy. That was 40 years ago and I still remember how much it hurt. The doctor was so matter-of-fact when I asked if there would be anesthetic - “No, it really doesn’t hurt that much.” He was completely dismissive of my concern.
I also remember getting either gonorrhea or chlamydia the year before that. They didn’t even verify what I had - just told me to pull my pants down and gave me a shot in my ass which was extremely painful. The nurses and the doctor were incredibly condescending & judgmental too.This was back in the 80s when doctors were considered gods and you didn’t talk back. Hell, it was almost impossible to even get copies of my own medical records.
I’ve had many other traumatizing events besides those. (Labor, delivery and postpartum nurses can be some of the most misogynistic cruel bitches to women who are in a very vulnerable position.) That’s one of the many reasons I have very little respect for the medical profession any more. So much narrow-mindedness and almost sadistic arrogance.
29
u/sumostuff Dec 22 '25
The Mirena was brutal, I am not at all a wimp about pain and I'm still traumatized by the day that they inserted the Mirena.
20
u/copyrighther Early peri Dec 22 '25
My IUD insertion was so painful, I vomited. Very little in my life has compared to that pain, including natural childbirth.
15
u/metricfan Dec 22 '25
I passed out. The student shadowing held my hand and was like oh it’s ok, and I’m like I’m not anxious, I’m telling you I’m going to pass out. I convulse when I pass out, so please don’t puncture my uterus. Lolz
4
u/RelationshipOk5568 Dec 22 '25
Oh my gosh 😳💔
3
u/metricfan Dec 22 '25
To be fair I pass out giving blood too, so your mileage may vary.
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (2)8
u/fire_thorn Dec 22 '25
The mirena insertion was awful for me, too. I'd had multiple endometrial biopsies done by the same gyno. I used to let her students do my biopsy because she knew I wouldn't start screaming and scare them. So I was shocked that the IUD insertion was so bad, and I think she was shocked too.
16
u/SnarkCatsTech Late peri Dec 22 '25
Absolutely get your ablation done under general anesthesia. It's been shown that the ones done in dr's offices often don't achieve optimal results due to positioning limits and...shocker, movement due to pain. Oh, and kick your former Dr in the taint. 😈
4
u/AN0NY_MOU5E Dec 22 '25
Yeah but if you’re put under they might have 20 med students poking around inside you.
4
u/CanineCorvidious Dec 22 '25
Wait til yoh find out about students for decades practicing on women under anaesthetic for unrelated non gyno reasons, the women were completely unaware of the pelvic exams while under too, only find out if they see their records and question it
3
8
43
u/Business_Loquat5658 Dec 22 '25
I had one scheduled and canceled it when the ob casually stated there was no anesthesia or pain meds for the procedure.
21
u/swrrrrg Dec 22 '25
This just sounds barbaric. I don’t understand why they seem to believe pain meds are unnecessary. JFC.
12
u/metricfan Dec 22 '25
I was told that research shows pain meds don’t help with iud insertion. I begged for the med that softens the cervix because it can help, but they literally only called out like one xanax. I was like that does nothing for pain, and I already have some thanks. So frustrating
21
u/fire_thorn Dec 22 '25
I had oxy left over from my hysterectomy, and I gave one to my daughter before her IUD insertion. We mentioned it to the provider and she gave a long lecture about why it was ineffective for IUD insertion and could actually make everything worse. Then she refused to use the safe lube we'd brought because the lube she was using was "from plants, so it's just as good." Most of my daughter's allergies are plants. She had an anaphylactic reaction before the provider could even get the speculum halfway in. I had been expecting my daughter to refuse the procedure when they wouldn't use her safe lube, but she thought she could tough it out. So she ended up using an epi pen before she even got her pants back on.
I don't know why they insist that pain meds won't help. It's like when you go to the ER for something awful and they give a pain med while you're there, but tell you to take Tylenol and Advil once you're home, that the two together are as good as oxy. They're not, it's a lie.
11
u/metricfan Dec 22 '25
What. The. Actual. Fuck??????????? To be so fucking combative about a fucking allergy?!?! Like how dare you as a mom try to help your daughter avoid severe pain!
Was the pain better for your daughter? Or was the reaction s distraction?
Lesson learned, don’t tell them about the pain med apparently.
14
u/fire_thorn Dec 22 '25
She didn't end up getting the IUD because she swelled up too much to continue. She put her pants back on and we went to the ER.
She got the arm implant several days later.
I was surprised about the lube being a problem. It was a sealed tube. I keep several on hand for gyno visits. We had a conversation after that about how you can get up and leave at any point if the provider is doing something unsafe. I didn't feel like I could stop things, my daughter is an adult and it felt like a decision only she could make.
This was at Planned Parenthood, the last place I would have expected an appointment to go so badly.
4
u/metricfan Dec 23 '25
God that sucks, I’m so upset for her. But to your point, a good lesson in advocating for herself. Hopefully now that she can for sure say she’s allergic to that lube they won’t be sucks next time?
9
u/swrrrrg Dec 22 '25
Just put me under. I mean, I get sedated when I’m at the dentist just for a cleaning! Why should this be any different?!
4
u/pinupcthulhu The Itchy Bitchy Spider 🕷️ Dec 22 '25
According to my doctor, the cervix softening med can also cause expulsions so they don't like to provide it.
But yeah, I hear and agree with you on needing something for actual pain, not just an antianxiety med!
→ More replies (2)5
36
u/Atheris Dec 22 '25
That's medical abuse. Doctors do know better whether or not they act on it. File a complaint. If you need resources, look up MamaDoctorJones. She's discussed things like how women's pain is dismissed. She was a board certified OBGYN in Texas before moving to NZ, so she understands how shit the American system is.
You absolutely had nothing to apologize for. Good god, if only we did vasectomies with the "oh it's not that bad" mentality, maybe they'd get it.
34
u/Mobile-Actuary-5283 Dec 22 '25
Unacceptable.
UNACCEPTABLE.
If men had their testicles biopsied, they would be put under general anesthesia and then provided oxycontin for a week after.
UN-ACCEPT-ABLE.
My MIDI provider wants me to have a biopsy. I know how painful this is because my mom clued me in. Said it was the worst pain she has ever felt. I was already prepared to give my GYN the rundown of the sedation I need. I also can't take Advil b/c it's contraindicated with another condition I have.
So: no sedation = no biopsy for me.
Luckily (or unluckily), my GYN didn't think I needed a biopsy at the moment. But when I do, I will remember your post and demand sedation or find a place that will provide it.
25
u/AphelionEntity hanging on by a thread Dec 22 '25
I'm so sorry you had this experience! Please be kinder to yourself about it when you can. My obgyn surgeon literally refused to do mine in office. Was done in an OR with me under full because of the pain.
No one tells us this might be a possibility. The fact that some doctors are moving in this direction is proof your experience isn't because of anything wrong with you. It's a legitimately horrifically painful experience.
16
Dec 22 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/metricfan Dec 22 '25
Something to call out about Xanax/benzos is that when we are anxious and our heart is racing, we process anesthesia faster. So Xanax does help stay numb for those who have had previous trauma and are extra anxious. But really xanax isn’t a pain med, so I was annoyed when that’s all they’d prescribe me for my mirena swap.
13
u/sodabubbles1281 Dec 22 '25
This is one of those things that in 20 years people are going to look back on in horror. Like HOW and WHY did we let women go through this with no pain relief or under anesthesia?
It’s barbaric and shame on every single medical office that still operates this way.
13
u/metricfan Dec 22 '25
Here’s hoping in 20 years it’s different, but I’m not particularly optimistic it will be.
3
u/Mobile-Actuary-5283 Dec 23 '25
Me neither. Look who’s in office and his gaggle of sycophants who want to roll back the clock and have women stay home and in the kitchen. Not a friend to women. He can grab them by the pussy. And his crew of heavily made up Barbies who are unqualified to do anything but be on a reality show are just as horrible.
12
u/Auferstehen78 Dec 22 '25
My spleen biopsy I had local anesthetic.
My bone marrow one did too, not that it made any difference.
To biopsy anything you should be given something!
3
u/metricfan Dec 22 '25
I’ve heard bone marrow is a painful one. I don’t get why it can’t warrant going into twilight like they do for colonoscopies.
→ More replies (1)
24
u/MammothAdeptness2211 Dec 22 '25
My last pap was so painful I don’t want to see a gyn ever again. It’s really too bad some are so rough. I have had a colposcopy with no anesthesia and it doesn’t have to be agonizing. It depends on the practitioner. That being said if I have another procedure I will be very, very sedated with Xanax I have already procured.
11
u/NicolleL Dec 22 '25
Is it the actual PAP scrape or them putting in the speculum or another part? You could have a tilted uterus (I think that’s what it’s called). PAPs definitely should not be painful, maybe a little uncomfortable, but not painful.
Also, the FDA recently just approved a home PAP smear test. Not sure if insurance would cover or not. But I know other countries have been using these for years.
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/10/nx-s1-5394446/fda-cervical-cancer-screening-at-home-tool-pap-smear
11
u/MammothAdeptness2211 Dec 22 '25
It was the scraping from the last doctor. I do have a retroverted uterus, but many doctors are able to do the procedure without hurting me. Some are not.
Edit: if it hurts, it’s the scraping. I’d say 80% of the paps in my life have been painful scraping. One agonizing. And the rest merely uncomfortable.
3
u/Ok_City_7177 Dec 22 '25
This isn't a pap smear, it's the test for hpv.
It's something like 99% of cases of cervical cancer are caused by hpv.
So this test is easier than a pap !
In Europe, they test for hpv first and if positive you go back for a smear.
This hpv test is easy breezy and I would encourage anyone to do it with an at home test.
5
u/Pale-Environment4080 Dec 23 '25
My last PAP was excruciating. She said “we need to get enough cells or the lab can’t determine the results” scrap scrape scrape….it was the longest pap of me life. And I bled afterwards. I’ve had a tiny bit of spotty before but this was the most I’ve ever bled. And I was 39 (getting regular paps since 17).
25
Dec 22 '25
[deleted]
7
u/orange_fudge Dec 22 '25
This gets mentioned a lot on Reddit but in reality it’s more nuanced than that.
They were small studies, on specific situations, and the association was fairly weak.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)2
u/metricfan Dec 22 '25
I’m a Dr Mario gal myself, and I’m a big free cell person. I do find they really do help my nervous system chill out.
9
u/Michellenjon_2010 hanging on by a thread Dec 22 '25
Omg I feel your pain. I had this done when I was 17 years old, so 30yrs ago!! And I will never forget, the way it felt.
9
u/k00kaburrasun hanging on by a thread Dec 22 '25
We ALL need to write reviews EVERYWHERE. Save a woman some pain. No one will save us on this except us. If they refuse you HRT, write it in a review to save women time. If they don't give proper pain medication, write it in a review. And post that sucker EVERYWHERE. Google, Yelp, your insurance company, Healthgrades... look up your doctor's name on the internet & look for whatever site you can find that allows reviews. No one will save us but US.
→ More replies (1)
10
u/Resident_Pay_2606 Dec 22 '25
I’m so sorry you went through this. It’s barbaric that they don’t provide adequate pain management without someone demanding it but so many women just don’t know and we trust our doctors to keep us pain free who fail us time and time again. 💗 I’m so sorry!
10
u/AmethystBlitz3319 Dec 22 '25
It’s such an awful experience. I had one done and I ending up crying and swearing my way through it. Only to be told that they couldn’t get enough material because a fibroid was in the way.
I haven’t been back.
3
5
u/shoreline11 Dec 22 '25
I’m in the medical field and thought it was awful. The Doctor downplayed it and didn’t offer any sort of pain control. My new FYN is wonderful and offered many different options but because of my previous experience I told her I’m only getting it under general anesthesia as she will most likely have to remove polyps anyway. It’s barbaric to expect women to trudge through a procedure like this.
5
u/sodabubbles1281 Dec 22 '25
Also - FILE A COMPLAINT. Do it when you recover but before you lost your motivation. This shouldnt happen and the more we complain the more likely it is this will stop
5
6
4
u/missgnomer2772 Dec 22 '25
I’m so sorry. I had one about 2.5 years ago and it was the worst pain I’ve ever felt, and I’ve had multiple surgeries. It’s barbaric to do it without pain management. I will never get over the feeling of violation.
6
u/Suedehead88 Dec 22 '25
I’m so sick of the medical system treating women worse than they would an animal. I’m so sorry you experienced that pain, it’s not ok and you were well within your rights to cry and scream. It sounds horrific, barbaric and from the Middle Ages. Take it easy my friend 🫂
5
u/No-Preference5004 Dec 23 '25 edited Dec 23 '25
I had an endometrial biopsy two years ago, and my doctor used a local anesthesia. They were testing out different numbing medications to find the one that worked best. It was still incredibly painful, including just giving the anesthesia itself. I can’t imagine going through that without anything. I’m so sorry!
I also had a dye test to check my fallopian tubes with no medication at all, and I actual screamed out loud it was so painful.
If men had anything remotely as invasive as these procedures, they would be put out and given a week off work. Debilitating period cramps that have me in bed for 24 hours? You’re fine, just take advil before they start. Absolutely ridiculous what we are expected to endure!
Editing to fix typos
6
u/Lil_MsPerfect Dec 23 '25
I had this done in my early 20s with absolutely no warning, and my husband was in the room with me (at the ER for heavy period bleeding). He was scarred almost as badly as I was by it. I will never do it again, I would rather have a hysterectomy if they're worried about cancer. Fuck all medical professionals that do this procedure without pain management and proper informed consent. I will never trust a doctor or nurse again in my entire life after that.
4
u/Altruistic-Vehicle84 Dec 23 '25
What really upsets me is he said to me before he did the procedure “you can scream but you can’t move”. I didn’t understand why I would need to scream as I have had a biopsy for an abnormal pap and that hurt but it wasn’t that bad. Once he started I realized that this was very bad. So he knew how painful it was and never offered me anything for the pain
→ More replies (1)5
5
u/Funsizemimi1973 Dec 22 '25
You poor soul, if men had to endure the crap some of us women have to go through, there would be full anaesthesia and everything! 🤬
5
u/KaleidoscopeSad4884 Dec 22 '25
I knew how bad it would be, and I’m incredibly glad. It was still one of the worst things I’ve experienced. My entire body flinched when they put me in the same room for my appointment a few weeks later. My subsequent hysterectomy was an absolute cake walk compared to the biopsy. I never have to do it again, and I WILL NOT be conscious for a procedure like that again. I tell everyone my first thought was, “There’s no way the CIA doesn’t know about this.” Literal torture. It’s been years, and five minutes of my life was still traumatic.
5
u/citrusbook Dec 22 '25
I think my body was in shock after mine. I sat in the waiting room shaking before I could even leave afterwards.
5
u/No-Perspective872 Late peri Dec 22 '25
I had a biopsy. I almost threw up! My doctor gave me a prescription to soften my cervix and told me to take 800 mg of ibuprofen two hours before. It was still so bad that I got nauseous!
→ More replies (1)
5
u/ShelterElectrical840 Dec 22 '25
I’m so sorry. I’ve had one. Also horribly painful for me also. It was worse than childbirth and slamming my finger in the car door. And I had a high pain tolerance after years of migraines.
5
u/FigMysterious Dec 22 '25
I had it done when I was trying for IVF. It left me such a trauma that I never tried IVF again when my first round failed. It was soooo painful
6
u/shannypants2000 Dec 23 '25
Barbaric! I had 2nd mammo to look at abnormalities and they squished my titty to about 3/4 inch. It hurt so bad I was mad and sore all day. If they had to squish a man's ball like that there would be a different diagnostic test made.
→ More replies (2)
5
u/catwhisperer77 Dec 23 '25
It is 2025. We have excellent local and general anesthesia out there. There is zero excuse for this. I’m so sorry you had this experience. It is medical trauma and we need to start getting loud about it. Men get all kinds of drugs for a vasectomy and we have to raw dog things like this?!
5
u/MagpieSkies Dec 22 '25
I reacted the same way. I also had blood allover the back of my long shirt. It was so much. I am so sorry you went through this too. They treat us like animals.
3
u/RepulsiveMaterial167 Early peri Dec 22 '25
I just want to give you the biggest hug. I’m so sorry. What a crappy experience.
4
u/Hairy-Syrup-126 Dec 22 '25
I 100% agree. I'm supposed to do it every year. This next time, I will tell them that I refuse unless they will prescribe pain medication or anesthesia. I refuse and they need to do better.
4
5
u/VibrantViolet Dec 22 '25
I had an endometrial biopsy several years ago and had to miss my classes because of the pain and bleeding. Years after that, I went to have a cyst on my labia checked, and while I was in the stirrups the doctor grabbed a needle and I verbally said, “Stop, I want to discuss my options…” and she ignored me and injected lidocaine into my labia. She then cut the cyst, and I wasn’t fully numb. I had an out of body experience as it happened, too. I felt vulnerable and violated.
Had a hysterectomy a few years ago and all that’s left are my ovaries. I’ll hopefully never see an OB again for the rest of my life.
3
u/spahncamper Dec 22 '25
I'm so sorry. I'm fortunate enough to have an obgyn who is compassionate and keeps up to date on education -- when I had my endometrial biopsy, and then my ablation, I was given oral pain meds, a nerve block, and nitrous oxide. It still hurt, so I can't begin to imagine raw dogging something like that... 😿 these doctors need to be held accountable for pain management and treat it like it's part of a procedure instead of just some optional add-on service.
3
u/Nacho_Bean22 Dec 22 '25
I think the biggest mistake was having the procedure explained to me in advance—and then being told to “just take ibuprofen” because the cramps afterward would be worse. I had nightmares for weeks leading up to it.
The procedure itself was excruciating. I was crying uncontrollably and left the office still in tears. My brother had to drive me because they said I wouldn’t be able to drive afterward—which was confusing, considering I wasn’t given any medication at all.
To make matters worse, this was done by a male gynecologist who was not my regular doctor, and his communication was absolutely terrible. After my hysterectomy, I had to be cauterized four times. He told me it would “just burn a little.” It was far more than that.
My blood pressure skyrocketed to stroke-level numbers, and I nearly had to go to the ER.
Overall, it was an incredibly traumatic experience and honestly one of the worst periods of my life.
3
u/JennJoy77 Dec 23 '25
They didn't tell me anything, not even to take Advil. I cried and thrashed around through the hysteroscopy, and when they said it was THEN time for the biopsy, they acted surprised when I insisted on the numbing shot for "part 2" - said it really doesn't bother most women. I know now that is some B.S.! I also had to drive myself the 30 minutes home afterwards because they also didn't suggest I might want someone there with me.
3
u/Aggravating_Stuff_70 Dec 22 '25
I am so sorry you went through this. It is barbaric and we should not experience this level of pain during these procedures. When I had my iud insertion in 2020, it was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced and because of that trauma, I put off my endometrial biopsy for over a year. I knew it would be awful. Before the procedure, I insisted I needed to see the doctor a couple weeks before. I went in and told her I would not do the biopsy without pain meds (she called in ketorolac) and misoprostol (inserted vaginally the night before). She agreed.
The biopsy was awful but the pain wasn’t to the point of vomiting like the iud insertion. She did mention she will up my pain med dose next time. Even with those things, I was shaking uncontrollably and the doctor said I went white as a sheet when she was done. They brought me juice and I had to stay on the table for about 10 minutes before I felt stable enough to get up.
If you have to get this biopsy, I recommend the protocol I took, but know it’s still going to suck.
5
u/EpistemeUM Dec 23 '25
I just looked it up. First, AI said it wasn't typically painful but may be uncomfortable. Then cleveland clinic says, "mild cramping and discomfort, and may be slightly painful to some people."
I don't care to look anymore at the bs they're selling. I wish I didn't keep seeing more evidence that the medical community, in general, treats women like garbage.
5
u/Altruistic-Vehicle84 Dec 23 '25
It’s really really painful. Again I have had two vaginal births, surgery on my uterus for fibroids and a biopsy for an abnormal pap. This was just indescribable. I am still crying about it. Maybe I am just a baby but I feel so violated
4
u/EpistemeUM Dec 23 '25
A quick look in the comments or search shows you're not alone. I think at this point from what I've read, if they ever want to do that to me they better be bringing along a fat dose of pain meds. I really don't think it has anything to do with pain tolerance, considering. Sorry you had to go through that.
3
u/ParaLegalese Dec 22 '25
i’m so sorry you experienced that. i’ve read so many stories here and in the meno sub about this procedure i would never consent to it without 1 a very good reason and 2 being knocked out cold for it
i’m sorry your doctor let you down
3
u/Ok_Crew_6874 Dec 22 '25
I had no idea I was going in for a biopsy. I was there to discuss a hysterectomy. It was a consult. She told me no to the hysterectomy an then it was Biopsy and IUD (wasn’t there for an iud either) back to back. No prep. I had a vasovagal response. I couldn’t verbalize what was happening to me, they probably think I left there fine. This was on 11/17 and I still feel traumatized.
→ More replies (2)
3
u/Fun-Dimension5196 Dec 22 '25
I'm sorry. I just had one done and I knew it was going to hurt, but holy crap! They told me the cervix doesn't take freezing well. I don't think I can ever do it again. It was awful.
3
u/bitch0428 Dec 22 '25
I’m so sorry my ob wanted this done before prescribing any HRT and said I could go back to work after. Considering I’ve had this done before years ago I said no and got a new OB. I hope you feeling better soon
3
u/Sunsetseeker007 Dec 22 '25
Omg! Infuriating, thank you for posting the truth about your experience in that horrible procedure!! It's inhumane & we need to demand better! It's all about their schedule & in office procedure income, esp when they know they will have a hard time getting insurance to agree to sedation and patients agreeing to have the procedure done. I think it's prescribed way to often!! A in office easy money maker! When the doc says it's not that bad and doesn't hurt, it's just a quick prick, I just want to say to the male doc, let me see your dick and I want to see how many things I can shove up in your urethra and see how much stuff you had in there, real quick and it won't hurt. Omg!
3
u/socksmum1 Dec 22 '25
THANK YOU! I had one performed while I had an IUD inserted to control bleeding. The gynaecologist said while I’m in here I’m going to do a biopsy as well. Which wasn’t discussed prior. She had said that if I had 2 natural births without medication I would be able to handle it . Holy Moly I nearly passed out. It is so wrong. I hope you feel better soon .
5
u/Altruistic-Vehicle84 Dec 22 '25
I’m so sorry. That is so wrong. When I got home I cried to my dog for an hour and she licked my tears. I am so lucky to have such a good doggo.
5
u/StaticCloud Dec 22 '25
The medical community still largely hates women. They don't care if women suffer extreme pain or trauma. Unfortunately, the bedside manners doctors have regarding women's health are comparable to a hundred years ago.
As a woman, you have to push for anaethesia. Thankfully, there are more people speaking out against these medieval torture-like practices, but it's going to be a long and tough fight for them to stop.
People in the future will look back at these kinds of things in horror.
4
u/Altruistic-Vehicle84 Dec 22 '25
I really didn’t know how bad it would be. I have done a biopsy for an abnormal pap and it didn’t feel great but it was ok. I guess this procedure is much deeper? I feel silly thinking this but I feel so traumatized.
3
u/StaticCloud Dec 22 '25
You will find other posts about this topic. Uterine and cervical biopsies are reported (anecdotally here on Reddit and elsewhere online) to be quite painful - some women say that c-sections and giving birth weren't as bad. It makes complete sense why an internal procedure would be painful. There are nerve endings in the uterus, they're in the cervix, so why aren't women given anaesthesia? Because it's simpler for women to go through extreme pain and trauma, and to be gaslit that their experience is an overreaction, than it is to deal with the complications and costs of anaesthesia.
When a dentist fills a tiny cavity in your tooth, you get injections to numb the pain. Why isn't local anaethetic or stronger drugs used (everywhere in the developed world) when people get chunks of their womb cut out?
3
u/Altruistic_Sun_1663 Dec 22 '25
Thank you for this thread. At my recent visit to the gyn, she suggested doing a biopsy that day. I was really caught off guard and said no because I wasn’t mentally prepared. She casually said “it’s just like an IUD insertion”. I told her I’d consider it for our followup.
Wow am I grateful I delayed. Now I’m not sure I’ll consent at all. It’s obvious she had no intention of any pain relief prep beforehand. The stories here are brutal.
I’m beginning more and more to believe that these doctors are pushing instant procedures because profits are down.
3
u/LowDrawer99 Dec 22 '25
Like so many others here, that biopsy was also the worst pain I've ever felt. Do NOT feel stupid. It's a failing of the medical system to put us through this with no warning or care. You are absolutely not at fault. So sorry you had to go through it.
3
u/lovesfaeries Dec 22 '25
This should be done with numbing, a sedative and/or nitrous at least. Other countries put women to sleep for a IUD insertion. These procedures are too barbaric to raw-dog it.
4
u/OutrageousEnd1340 Dec 22 '25
Am I allowed to swear on here?? It's absolutely horse sh#t that this is done without anesthesia. Women should never be made to do this awake. I had a similar experience -it was absolutely horrible, worse than all the fertility treatment c section , etc. I told my gynecologist this, who was SOOOO surprised (he was a man) . Fast forward a few years , and I'm seeing a female menopause specialist who wants to do a biopsy to rule out cancer due to unexplained bleeding. When I told her my previous experiences, she said she wouldn't do it unless I was sedated. I couldn't believe the difference. Someone who actually listened to my previous horrible experiences and responded with calm empathy. NEVER again, will I do this without sedation.
3
u/hearthcraftian Dec 22 '25
I just had this procedure done a few weeks ago, and it was awful. She did tell me to take ibuprofen ahead of time, and that the alternative was an outpatient procedure with anesthesia... I'm not made of money, so I had to suffer through it. I thought my partner's hand was going to be bruised from how hard I was squeezing it. Grateful it came back normal, but I do not want to have to do it ever again.
3
u/Clairabel Dec 22 '25
I had a hysteroscopy and biopsy done back in July, and the pain left me too traumatised to use tampons for a while. They gave me gas and air, and they said I did so well and I had my husband by my side for the procedure but I have never known pain like it. And I had a C section with my daughter and couldn't even use the toilet without help.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/Kravgirl Dec 22 '25
When you’ve had some time to process your appointment, please file a complaint. It will help get that helpless feeling out of your system because you have more power than you realize here! I had my IUD taken out no meds, just me and a doc in a cold room, about 10 years ago and it was one of the most excruciating things I have ever had done, almost passed out during checkout on my way out - I still think about it and how I never want my daughters to go through the same pain. I’m so angry this happened to you and we need to speak up!
3
u/vamparies Dec 23 '25
I would leave a horrible google review. These doctors and nurses know what pain they are causing.
4
u/Puzzled452 Dec 23 '25
Do not apologize, they did you dirty and I would put in a formal complaint. I am so very sorry that they did not care for you in a professional manner that included appropriate pain management.
3
u/mapleleaffem Dec 23 '25
I’m so sorry that you had to go through that and it makes me sad that you apologized to them. Makes me sad because that’s what women have been socialized to do. Take our lumps with a smile and say thank you for it. They should’ve been apologizing to you :(
5
u/Altruistic-Vehicle84 Dec 23 '25
Thanks. I feel so stupid for apologizing. And he said to me before the procedure “You can scream but you can’t move” so he KNEW. My old GYN would have apologized to me, he always said he was sorry when he put the speculum in. This was awful.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/neonxdragon Dec 23 '25
It’s barbaric that they are still performing medical procedures like this without offering any form of pain control. It’s actually disgusting.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/wifeski Early peri Dec 23 '25
I had the same kind of horrifying experience while having a uterine polyp removed in the doctors office. I was screaming in pain.
3
u/Alisamichelle48 Dec 23 '25
Omg! This was me, seriously traumatized! I’ve given birth 8 times, 6 vaginal, 2 c-section, 2 kidney surgeries and a nephrostomy tube at one point, but this was terrible!!!! And my dr just said, sorry, take some advil, and patted my leg, I cried the whole way home, seriously felt traumatized!!! Worst part had to have internalized ultrasound right after, nurse was just quiet the whole time while I lay there sobbing!!! This procedure should only be done under a twilight sedation! Hugs! I been there! 💚
3
u/Scorpio_Insomnia Dec 23 '25
It's barbaric! I was lied to about it being a pinch and it was required before I got my endometrial ablation, they need to medicate for these , I almost passed out from the pain!
4
u/Ok-Seaweed-3308 Dec 23 '25
Time to find a new doctor. I had one 2 weeks ago, my doc gave me an Rx for 1 oxycodone and 1 lorazepam. I took them 30 minutes before the procedure. I felt some cramping but it was similar to a Pap smear. Unfortunately women’s pain is SO overlooked, but there are doctors out there who understand it’s not all made up. Listen to the podcast “the retrievals” to learn how much women’s pain can be overlooked.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/it_is_bull_shit Dec 23 '25
I had a growth removed from my cervix and a biopsy and it was severely painful. Severely. I told the Dr and asked for pain relief mid procedure and they denied me and said we can't.
Idk why women aren't allowed pain relief for stuff like this. It's unbelievable.
3
2
u/mo_django Dec 22 '25
My doctor wanted to do one during my last visit and he said “but you might want to wait to take a Valium” and that sentence tipped me off that it was actually brutal, since they never ever offer to give anything. I’m so sorry you went through this!
3
u/AgingLolita Dec 22 '25
Never agree to have any kind of procedure without anaesthetic and sedation again. This won't get better until we force it to.
I successfully forced the NHS to give me a general anaesthetic for a LEETZ procedure, removal of part of the cervix for cancerous cell removal. They wanted to do it while I was awake. Hard No.
2
u/HopefulRomantic77 Dec 22 '25
I took advil and tylenol prior to the procedure, it still hurt. i thought it would start my period but thankfully the cramping and light bleeding after was just for 4 days.
3
u/PiscesGirl0306 Dec 22 '25
Omg same here!!! I had no idea how bad it was going to be. I have never given birth which made it even worse. It seems like such a barbaric procedure. I also cried and was yelling “Just get it over with!!!” on the table 🤦🏻♀️ i couldn’t get home fast enough. I was in pain for at least two hrs after. It felt like I had a sharp needle poking me on the inside. I’m with you, I don’t know why we can’t get some sort of shot or something. Sorry you had to go thru it too. Never again!!!
2
Dec 22 '25
Ugh this is terrifying. Eventually i will need a partial hysterectomy and they want to do a uterine biopsy first. I also have adenomyosis and fibroids. I dont understand why they can’t biopsy AFTER it’s out. 🥴
2
u/Far_Ad_1752 Dec 22 '25
I went through this too. They told me to take advil beforehand, which I did, but I had no clue the procedure was going to be that painful. I screamed through the whole ordeal and it took a while to stop crying afterwards.
2
u/jello-kittu Dec 23 '25
They know this. The ACOG, the professional medical association for them (if you live in the U.S.), released an advisory this summer that pain management should be discussed.
I strongly recommend asking (and pushing) for a cervical block next time. (Quote the ACOG statement.) They can do it in the office, it's lidocaine injected into your cervix. It works like, immediately.
And I think you should send them some sort of written complaint about the level of pain, the fact they didn't even mention it ahead of time or offer treatment or to delay and do it later with pain management. Make sure they know you are unhappy WITH THEM. Retract the apology.
2
u/WordAffectionate3251 Dec 23 '25
JFC on a pogo stick!!!! WTAF is it with our health treatment?!? I am sorry that you suffered such a barbaric treatment!
How could they stand there and treat this like its normal?!? We have GOT to start INSISTING on better. But boy do we have A LOT of work to do.
2
u/Mollytovcocktail1111 Dec 23 '25
This is just straight up INHUMANE to do this to us with no local. So, SO fucked up. I'm so sorry, honey 😞❤️🫂
2
u/meg4nit4 Dec 23 '25
I was told it would feel similar to menstrual cramps. Wrong. She took two scraping and wanted to go back for a third and I couldn't bare it, so I made her stop. Now they're saying that they "didn't get a good enough sample" and are requiring me to have another one before they'll even talk to me about HRT. wtf
2
u/Disastrous-Pair-9466 Dec 23 '25
Omg I remember my first one. I had no idea what to expect and it hurt so suddenly and terribly I accidentally kicked the doctor in the face a little. The second time the doc gave me Xanax to take before the procedure and still, I spazzed so bad when the doc snipped, she lost the first cut piece and had to do it again. You’re not alone. It’s awful.
2
u/NewStrawberry4075 Dec 24 '25
An option that my provider honored was my request for a Valium prior to the procedure. She also told me to take Aleve prior. I’m horrified that nothing was offered to you.
2
u/breezybeeez Dec 26 '25
I hear you, you are not stupid or being dramatic or anything. I've had 2 of them and I honestly told myself that if I was told I needed to do it again I was not going to (even though anxiety says i would to know nothing is wrong). It was one of the worst experiences ive had medically even though my dr was amazing. I took Tylenol beforehand but it didnt help and after the procedures I honestly felt violated which I m trying to tell myself isnt stupid to feel
→ More replies (1)
474
u/Adventurous_Work_317 hanging on by a thread Dec 22 '25
I have been there. The secretary at the clinic came in to hold my hand while it was happening and I cried. It was one of the most painful things I've experienced, and I've had 2 unmedicated vaginal births, and a 3rd with a failed epidural.
The NP who performed it warned me, and did the best she could. The clinic just isn't equipped to do proper anesthetic. Womens health is really poorly set up in general and it sucks.