Disappointing gynaecology appointment. What now?
Hi! I’ve been reading some of the posts here after developing pretty bad pain during (and outside of) my periods over the last few years and found them quite helpful.
Now, a bit over a week ago I finally had my gynaecologist appointment after months of waiting (NHS, UK) and it was less than ideal.
I saw my GP about the pain some time last year because it has gotten to a point where I’ll be in pain daily, even outside my periods during some cycles. Going to the toilet hurts, walking hurts, twisting, sneezing, coughing, laughing, you name it. I even feel the pain through a constant stream of ibuprofen and paracetamol.
My periods have also changed from being absolutely regular and uniform to just a bit too chaotic to be a coincidence. Spotting, starting and stopping then restarting, irregular cycle lengths etc.
To top it off, I developed a sensitivity to gluten and for some time milk as well, though it seems to be ebbing and flowing. I’m neither lactose intolerant nor do I have cealiacs, tests were negative.
First, I got an ultrasound done in October 2025, during which one small fibroid was discovered, nothing to worry about according to my GP but I insisted on further steps due to the pain.
Now that I finally had the long awaited appointment with a gynaecologist, I feel so lost.
She seemed generally thorough in her approach when it came to taking down my details and checking for contraindications with longterm medication, weight etc. but I was disappointed by everything else.
She did no abdominal exam (none of the 3 docs I’ve seen about this have), no vaginal exam, no ultrasound.
She stated it could be one of three things, a hormonal issue, endometriosis or a bowel problem. No mention of the previous ultrasound or findings, no mention of further diagnostic steps.
From there it went straight into: we have two treatment options. Hormones, i.e. progesterone via pill or mirena coil or surgery. She went on to state that there is a 50% chance they won’t find anything during surgery, otherwise if they find something they might have to abandon due to complexity and even if I had surgery, I will have to take the hormones either way because it will otherwise grow back, assuming it’s endometriosis.
She presented me with this, said she would recommend the mirena because I should have the least side effects from it, then asked me what I think.
I was completely overwhelmed and flustered and after a bit of back and forth where I tried to find my bearings, she gave me information leaflets on the things mentioned, said she’d consult with neurology regarding treatment interference (I have MS), contact the anaesthesiologist regarding surgery preparations (I will have to lose some weight if I want surgery), prescribed an off-label medication to treat the pain and she’ll make another appointment to see me in a few months.
I have absolutely no clue what to do.
This is not at all what I expected. I’m not prepared to take hormones just to hope they might help in 6 months time when the problem wasn’t even diagnosed or thoroughly investigated, even if I myself strongly suspect endometriosis… and I certainly don’t trust a gynaecologist and her team to perform a surgery that she’s been so negative about.
Should I go back to the GP again and demand a specialist appointment? Would it be good to ask for a colonoscopy as well?
I‘m still so overwhelmed and taken aback, I simply don’t understand why I’m essentially being told to experimentally medicate a symptom without a proper diagnosis of the issue…