Hi, My name is Charlotte. I am 22. I started having vaginal bleeding around the beginning of December. This carried on for around 4-5 weeks. I went to see my GP in the third week of bleeding. I done a urine test which was clear and she asked me to do 2 swab tests myself in the toilet. She told me to book another appointment for 2 weeks time for the results of the swab tests and a possible examination. I went back 2 weeks later for my appointment (I stopped bleeding that morning around 5 weeks after it started), my GP told me the swab tests were clear so she was going to do the examination. This probably lasted around 3-4 minutes (very uncomfortable) and she basically said in other words that something is not right. My GP said she will have to speak to 2 other doctors and call me to let me know what is going on. I received a call on Thursday (26 Jan), my GP said she had spoke to the other doctors and she was referring me to see a specialist at my local hospital, she said they would call me with my appointment. The next day (27 Jan), I received a call from a lady to ask me if I could attend an appointment on Thursday (2 Feb). The hospital isn't either of my 2 local hospitals, its further away. The lady on the phone said because the specialists will be better at this hospital and its best I take the first appointment I get offered as its urgent. She also told me my GP had made an urgent referral for me which I was unaware of. I now have an appointment on Thursday (2 Feb) to see a specialist for a talk and almost definitely to have a colposcopy. I'm very worried now as I have been reading online (I know I shouldn't) and any routine referrals can take weeks and weeks. Knowing I have been urgently referred has got me terrified. What can I expect? Is it painful? What could they say I have wrong with me? Any advice? Thanks in advance :) Char x
Hi Charlotte. I have never found colposcopy painful just a bit uncomfortable as they will put in a speculum to have a look. I don't know what is causing your bleeding but at your age I think it's rare for it to be anything serious, hormonal contraception can cause bleeding or cervical erosion and it's good you went to the doctor and you've got this appointment quickly so they can find out what's wrong and hopefully improve things. Good luck for your appointment, hope all goes ok for you xxx
Hi, thanks for the reply. I feel a bit better about colposcopy, just hope the speculum isn't painful. I didn't think it would be anything serious either. But as I've been referred as urgent it got me worried. Does cervical erosion need treatment? If so, what would it be? And would I be referred as urgent for cervical erosion? Thank you. Xxx
I don't think the speculum is painful just a bit unpleasant having someone doing that but not painful. They say cervical erosion is common in young women and those taking hormonal contraceptive, they don't always treat it but if its causing trouble they can causerize it. I don't think a cervical erosion would be an urgent referral really so I'm not sure why that's been done. There's so many things us women get, did your doctor give you any idea what she was thinking? This is the worst time waiting for appointments as it's so easy to let our mind run away with us. Hope you get on ok x
Hi, not feeling so bad about the speculum now. Spoke to a few ladies who say its not painful, just a bit uncomfortable. And I've read that with a colposcopy, nothing actually goes inside you, its just a microscope they use to look at the cervix but it doesn't even touch you. Yeah, I thought a cervial erosion wouldn't be urgent referral. I remember my GP saying something about a tube has come loose, she also said something looked red and swollen and that I need to have a smear as she couldn't do one because of my age. To be honest, she made it out to be a number of things, that or she wasn't so sure herself. At my appointment on Thursday, would they be able to tell if I have abnormal cells? Or, will they do a smear and I'll have to wait for the results? I'm sure whatever it is will be fixed with treatment. Just annoying not knowing what treatment I'll need. Its taking so long to get to Thursday! I'll be fine with whatever it is, just worrying about the pain of any treatment I'll need. Thank you for replying. Xxxx
Yes if you have abnormal cells they should be able too see, when they do colposcopy they coat your cervix with a vinegar type solution and any abnormal cells turn white so they can see them. If that happens they might take a biopsy, they make you cough as they do it so you shouldn't feel it x
Hi, the day of the appointment has finally arrived! I'm absolutely terrified. Just want it over and done with now. Will let you know how I get on. Thanks. Xx
