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Endometrial Biopsy: I’m terrified, what can I expect?
Hi there, I have no bleeding but my endometrial thickness is a 6 and I have an endometrial biopsy scheduled in 30 days and I'm terrified. I made the mistake of reading all the horror stories on the internet. My doctor said it is painful and is preparing me by asking me to take VagiFem 10 for the next month and also to take advil before arriving. I've had pap smears all my life and they never hurt but my last one did. But I think that's because the doctor ( mine retired ) used a large instrument which hurt but then switched to a smaller one which was fine. It's a different doctor who will do the biopsy. I've had 2 transvaginal ultrasounds which didn't hurt and one hysterscopy which didn't hurt at all. But I'm terrified of the biopsy. My ultrasound showed a thickness of 6, nothing else, and my CT scan showed nothing. I wish my doctor hadn't told me it would hurt - when I said my last pap smear hurt, he said this would hurt more. He wasn't trying to be mean, just preparing me. I'm hoping I can do it. Any thoughts? And thanks for listening.
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Thanks, Helen. I really should know better than to do a search and see such horrendous acct's of the biopsy. I understand people feel pain in varying degrees, and I'm not knocking their experiences, but I wish I never read them. It just scared me more. I landed in the ER last week with abdominal pain, so that's why I know my CT scan and ultra sound showed nothing but a mild thickness. I need to keep my research on reliable sites like you said. I had a hysteroscopy a few years back and found it just fine. My doctor wants to do the biopsy to be safe. I guess he was telling me that it was painful to tell me the truth and he's trying to prepare me the best he can. I guess the worst case scenario is that we can't get it done and I'll be sent somewhere for some sedation. The date is on Jan 20. He wanted to wait until then to do the pap smear and biopsy all at once - to get it over with. I don't mind some pain and I know it's a fast procedure and I know I need to do this because catching endometrial cancer in an early stage is key. I just was shocked. I have no signs of bleeding and my thickness is mild - a 6 - so I wasn't prepared to have a biopsy. Anyhow, thanks for listening. And thanks for responding.
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2 ReactionsThanks Topsz, for sharing. That is good news - that it doesn't last too long. Thank you.
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1 Reaction@suesam Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Many the members of our Gynecological Cancers support group have had endometrial biopsies. This is a good place to talk about what’s involved and get some advice and support.
I did not have an endometrial biopsy so I cannot comment on that. Based on my ultrasound and recommendations from the radiologist who read the ultrasound my gynecologist went straight to hysteroscopy and a D &C while I was under sedation.
You may have already read this. When I do research on the internet I look for and read reliable and valid information that comes from places like Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic or from .gov websites that come from the National Institutes of Health. Here is what Cleveland Clinic has on endometrial biopsy:
— https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/15676-endometrial-biopsy
I hope your results are negative. What is the scheduled date for the endometrial biopsy?
Well. I have had three. And yes they do hurt. I don’t know why drs don’t give anything stronger for pain for the procedure. Fortunately the procedure doesn’t last too long and once it’s over you will be fine. Hope your results are negative.
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