Comments on: Endometrial Biopsy

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:22:19 +0000

I just had this procedure done today, before I get a hysterectomy next week. Just had an ultrasound that showed my cause of constant cramping is that my uterus is entirely filled with fibroids, hence the hysterectomy. I WISH I would have read this site before I went today.
I am almost immune to pain. I was shot in the head and have had 30 surgeries. I have delivered 2 babies, vaginally. NOTHING compared to this biopsy today!
They couldn’t get thru my cervix, so I was dialated and grabbed. It was excruciating. I wasn’t advised to pre-medicate & I got no numbing agents. IMO, they should have stopped and scheduled it in a hospital with anesthesia. This was barbaric, and I’m considering legal action. Doubt I’ll go thru with the hysterectomy with their office if this is the way patients are treated!

By: Deb

Deb — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:07:24 +0000

Like most others, I was very apprehensive after reading some of these horror stories. My gynceologist warned me not to believe everything you read online. I’m sure for those who experienced the pain, the painwas real. I knew I had to have the test so I figured might as well relax and hope for the best. I did take two advils an hour before and another two about half hour before. I can’t really describe the feeling during the procedure as pain, it was more like pressure and a slight pinch. I felt no cramping at all and before I knew it, the procedure was over. I told my gyno that there was really no pain. She seemed a little surprised ( maybe first time she heard this) but she also told me that I had very good breathing tecnhiques. I did breathe like when I was in labor… so possibly that made the biopsy easier to take. I drove myself home and felt so good that I went to a party afterwards that I hadn’t planned on attending. I felt slight cramping the next couple of days…didn’t even need to take any more advil for it. Still waiting for the results. Hopefully, the rest of you will have an experience like mine!

By: Scout and Roxy's Mom

Scout and Roxy's Mom — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:15:43 +0000

My sister had this procedure a few months ago and said it was the worst pain she has ever experienced so when I had a pap test that showed endometrial cells (I’m 45 – had no symptoms but had my pap test just a few days after my cycle which can show these cells – so I am told). Anyway, I FREAKED when I heard I needed to have the biopsy. I had it this morning, about an hour before the procedure I took 800mg of advil and .5mg of xanax. The xanax didnt do much because I was so nervous. My Doctor (Male) and his NP (a good friend of mine) couldnt have been better to me. They showed me the tools and what they would be doing, how long the pain would last. They didnt sugarcoat it which made it not as awful as it could be. I can say that the pain only last 30 seconds (in my case) and it was bad but quick. Afterwards, i had a little cramping and spotting. Otherwise I feel just fine. I have never had children so I have a narrow cervix. All I can say is – take the pain pills ahead, take a xanax if you can and know what to expect. Good luck ladies!!!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:13:44 +0000

I put this procedure off for over a year because I was so afraid of the pain. Today I finally had it done. Maybe because I was on my cycle (and my cervix was slightly dilated), maybe because I’ve had a child, or maybe just from good luck, it didn’t hurt at all. In fact, it was more comfortable than the last pap smear I had. I think everyone’s bodies are different, and I do feel awful for anyone who has had a bad experience (and I did have an awful experience when they inserted an IUD many years ago), but I just wanted to reassure others that it is not an absolute certainty that you’ll be in horrific pain. Prepare for the worst (load up on pain meds, perhaps a pill to help with anxiety and take your hubby or good friend with you to hold your hand), but also keep in mind that it may not be a horrible experience. Good luck to everyone and best of health to all of you!!!!

By: Mel

Mel — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:59:31 +0000

I had this done on Oct. 18th. It was under GA ONLY becuase I had refused to have it done on the spot and ‘Googled’ it and freaked out and demanded the GA!!! Yes, some women may find this easy. I DID NOT!!! Thankfully under GA I felt nothing until I awoke in recovery. Thats when the horrible pain began. There was no advil for that pain! Strong painkillers right into my IV! After 4 hours I was on 30/500 cocodemol, 600 mg Ibuprofen and STILL I was in the most unreal pain in my hips, knees and legs. What the heck did they do to me?? Had to have the emergency doctor out and be put on an extremely strong muscle relaxer on top of the pain meds! The pain didnt go for two full days. Then there was the third day which had dizziness, bloating and cramps. Still have cramping and light spotty bleeding four days on. My body was a wreck! Still isnt back to normal. (not to mention the really annoying scrapes down below. Oh, and whatever you do, take a stool softner, ya sure as heck dont wanna push!) My advice…DO NOT have this done to you without GA. I cant imagine that pain on top of the after pain!! OK, everyone is different, but why risk it? My doc was fully ready to pop me on a table and do this without ANY meds at all and me with no idea what to expect. Thankfully, I was brave enough to say NO and research it. How many women dont and suffer. I dont want to scare anyone but if it were me again, Id have it only under GA and with some SUPER painkillers after!! The after pain was worse than my c-sections! Educate yourself, ask questions and dont take no for an answer! Its YOUR body! You are not uterus number 7653! You are a woman with a body and feelings. Speak up. Glad I did.

By: Barb

Barb — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 03:00:36 +0000

Sorry Anonymous you are going through this. Did you explain to the Dr your fears? If s/he won’t help to make the procedure less stressful, please find a other Dr. There has to be one that will listen to your concerns and make the procedure doable for you. Please take care of yourself. Some dr’s just don’t care or think patients over react.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:31:20 +0000

The doctor wanted me to have this DONE but when I found out I wouldn’t be sedated I said NOOOO!!! I have PTSD and experienced a panic attack during a medical procedure. I was sexually abused as a child and can barely tolerate being touched. Even pap tests are traumatizing to me so I get them very infrequently. Why can’t I be sedated for this? If it is the only way I would have it done, why wouldn’t the doctor sedate me? I NEED TO BE SEDATED!!! I hate some doctors because they are so cruel. They would rather I die of cancer. I don’t care what anyone says, I will not have an endometrial biopsy without sedation. If I end up having cancer, I will just kill myself. Those evil doctors don’t care.

By: Barb

Barb — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:38:08 +0000

Hi All –
I just had this procedure done last week. I went in for prolonged period and had no idea they would do this. I am 45 with no children. I had severe cramps that morning, so I suspect that didn’t help. I had taken two motrin for the cramps, but that made zero difference. My cervix was closed and tight, but the opening of the cervix was the least of my pain. It did hurt for a pinch and then a little cramp but that was it. What absolutely killed was the biopsy. I have never felt pain like that and will NEVER have another one done while awake. It felt like he scraped forever, and it hurt like I couldn’t believe. It was excrutiating. I kept saying Ouch! and finally asked the Dr to stop. He did, but he was done.
I was not told before hand that it would hurt aside from a little cramping. I got right up after, had blood work done and felt pretty good. I was dizzy off and on that afternoon and while I didn’t have any cramps I felt sore in there. I was traumatized by the experience.
I came home and googled and found so many other women with the same awful experience. I’m glad I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have had it.
Good luck ladies!

By: Jefferson

Jefferson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 04:10:16 +0000

I thought after reading all these postings that the 30% of the world that had a terrible time did all the posting and I would come back to this site and be one of the few to bring in some realism. My GYN said it would be painful but I’d do okay, her nurse said same thing, I consult with my family doc and he concurs take 3 advil, a cytotec to relax the cervix and life is grand. Okay, for the stats, I am 45, never had children. My period stopped for a full year turns out I have a prolactinoma. The endocrinoligist gets the prolactin balanced and the periods return. They can last weeks, the spotting lasts weeks, and then maybe a week before the periods resume. So it is time for a biopsy. My period had been going for 39 days. It stops 2 days before the scheduled Biopsy (great timing) so much for the cervix being partially dialated but let’s get this done. I bring my husband for support – I am actually scared, that doesn’t happen oftern. I have dislocated my shoulder 5x, broken bones, bilateral tendonitis – I’m pretty stout. I handle pain well. Had my shoulder rebuilt and planned a 5 day stay in the hospital for pain mgt. after 24 hours they released my with no prescription pain meds as I was perfectly fine. Okay – This biopsy will never be done again while I am conscious. Getting past the cervix was absolutely excruciating. I have never experienced pain that would cause me to scream. I remember a moment of — “I can do this, I can keep this inside, I will not” and then I screamed. I heard the bones in my husband’s hands start popping from my excessive squeezing. Yes, the doc is a good sport… says she’ll stop until I give her permission to continue… that was horrific. I don’t know how in the he** anyone can refer to that as cramping. It was off the scale pain. I had a root canal go wrong and that pain brought tears to my eyes but no sniveling, whining or noise..the tears were simply a bio function to pain. This was scream. I couldn’t believe I had just screamed in a doctors office (what will people think!) -When I had come down off the pain a bit – I gave her the okay. Again, it is not cramping this is pain, not as bad as getting past the cervix but I found moaning like a wounded animal trying to surpress another scream. I also determined I was flushed, light headed and heading for passing out in the near future. (At least I was already laying down). That night was not too terrible, I thought the worst was over. We went home and chilled out at the house. The next morning, I’m having flashbacks to being 13 and fighting with my older brother. You know the feeling after he punches you in the gut and the immediate pain wears off but the dull empty hollow pain that is deep lingers on….. yep, that is the feeling. I tried taking a few mild walks, heating pad on the tummy, on the back and I hope I still have a liver after pounding down advil all day. Thank goodness by dumb luck I had the day off after the procedure because I surely would not have been able to work. The doc says it is painful but only for a few minutes…maybe 3? I don’t care how short the pain is that was ridiculous and as someone else said barbaric. Why can’t modern meds block this type of pain. I will not be conscious if someone does this procedure to me again – I will require full sedation or take my chances not knowing what is growing in my utereus. It is inhuman even if it is only for 3 minutes. And yes, to quote another writer listed above, it does feel like someone swinging a painful zwizzle stick around inside your utereus – again I didn’t “get it” until I “Got It” UGH.

By: Sanntay

Sanntay — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:11:05 +0000

I have been bleeding for a little over six weeks now, and after two courses of Provera (the first couse stopped my period until the prescription ran out, and the second course only stopped the bleeding for a day), I was scheduled for an EB. After reading this blog, I was very anxious, but was well equipped with meds (800 mg Motrin, a Vicodin, and a Xanax) so by the time my name was called I was relaxed albeit a bit drowsy/ lightheaded. The nurse took my blood pressure and mentioned that the procedure would be uncomfortable, but that I should concentrate on taking deep, slow breaths. I asked if she had a tranquilizer dart, LOL. After sitting for about 10 minutes, the doctor came in and explained what she would be doing, noting that 85% of the time they get a good sample, while 15% of the time she cannot insert the straw-like device (pipelle) into the uterus due to a blockage. “Let’s hope you’re in the 85 percentile”, she said. I’ve been going to this GYN for about 14 years, so I was at ease for the most part, and she explained everything all the way through. Because I have been bleeding continuously, my cervix didn’t resist the insertion of the pipelle, but when she began extracting the sample, I groaned loudly and arched my back a bit. She told me she had to do that once more to get a sample from the other side of my uterus. Again, I moaned, and before I knew it, she was removing the instruments. I would describe that pain as a very sharp, deep, stabbing pain, much worse than any menstrual cramps I’ve had, but thank God it was over quickly. Afterwards, my body began to shake and I just continued to breathe deeply. To repeat what a lot of posters have noted, I can’t imagine what it would have been like without the meds I took, because it DID HURT!!! I was told to lie still for about 10 minutes, and truthfully, I was not about to try to go anywhere because my body was still in shock over WTH just happened. When the nurse returned to check on me, she recommended I go home and lie down, drink plenty of fluids, and take ibuprofen as I needed it. Well, I’m expecting results in 7-10 days, and hopefully everything is ‘normal’. According to the nurse, if I don’t stop bleeding, a D&C is pretty likely. Yikes!