WOMENS HEALTH - MY STORY

I recently had a bit of a health scare. I had some abnormal bleeding which at first I assumed was menstrual related. I’ve been on the progesterone only pill for about 4 years (since I had Ivy) and I had never had any bleeding at all in that time (with this pill you don’t have periods as it stops ovulation). So although bleeding was unusual for me, it isn’t unheard of so I initially thought it was just a random period. After about 4-5 weeks on consistent bleeding and a bit of nagging from my sister and Mum, I rang the GP and they asked me to come down for an examination that day.

I mean, aren’t examinations ‘down there’ THE WORST….! Theres always the fact that you feel like you need to wash at the perfect calculated moment. Bathing time has to be as close to the moment that you leave the house as possible! You can’t wear those normal holey knickers so you have to dig out the best pair you own. You think about having a little shave up but think better of it….I mean who has time for that?! And then you have to steel yourself for the doctor to have a good look around up there and hope your vagina is normal looking!

The GP was very reassuring when I got there, she explained it was probably just my pill causing the issues but she wanted to examine me anyway, however after the examination she explained she had seen some changes that she was a little concerned about. My cervix was actively bleeding, but she also noticed I had something called Ectropian which could have been the cause for said bleeding. She also noticed I had a couple of lumps on my cervix along with some colour changes. Off the back of all this, the GP sent off an urgent gynaecology referral.

Within four days I had a phone call from the gynaecology ward inviting me for an appointment in two days time. On the day I went in, the consultant had a chat with me and then I proceeded to go into the examination room. Well the examination chair was something else! Ive never seen a contraction quite like it! The nurses were absolutely lovely and put me at ease straight away. They sent me behind a curtain and told me to undress and use a towel for modesty…. Well the towel was basically a FLANNEL, it might have covered the modesty of a gnat but certainly not me!! I made my way to the dentist like chair and prepared myself for the examination. The next second a tv screen turned on and there was the biggest view of my vagina that you ever could have seen! I was NOT expecting that. However it was highly interesting having the doctor talk me through my anatomy! The doctor agreed that the concerns he could see warranted a couple of biopsies being taken - these are called punch biopsies and the feel exactly like the name suggests.

I was then given a pad to wear, I got dressed and was told I would receive the results in 3 weeks.

That night I had the worst aching pain, it felt like someone had hung an anchor off my lady bits and honestly, I only felt comfortable when lying horizontally!

I had to wait nearly the full three weeks to get my results. It was an anxious wait but I did finally receive the results that my biopsy was benign which was a HUGE relief! It really brought home to me the importance of making sure that you get unusual symptoms checked and that you keep up with regular smears.