Endometrial Biopsy: I’m terrified, what can I expect?

@suesam Oh, my. I’m sorry to hear that the procedure could not be completed. I do hope you get an appointment very soon with a gynecologist.

Don’t you just love a doctor who understands your fear and anxiety and tries to make the procedure as comfortable as possible? While it’s a huge disappointment that the biopsy could not be performed I am relieved to know that you were and are in good spirits.

Hi everyone,

My doctor couldn't complete the biopsy. Sigh. Apparently my cervix or something was too small to be able to pass the utensil through. So the next step is a gynecologist.

He was great though. He specializes in women's issues and has done a lot of these biopsies and he was trying to spare me the wait time to see a gynecologist. I was in no pain at all. He used freezing and the pap smear took seconds and was the easiest one I've ever had. I was raring to go - lol - and at one point he made me laugh so hard I thought I'd fall off the table. But I've never had children, I'm not sexually active, and I have atrophy and my paper skin even started bleeding a lot. My damn lady parts just wouldn't co-operate. LOL.

I was in good spirits though and felt well-prepared. But darn.

Thanks for listening though. I appreciate. it. 🙂

@suesam

I am thinking of you today and wishing you kind and competent providers every step of the way, a smooth procedure with minimal discomfort and results that bring you relief and/or hope and at least clarity.
You’ve done so well in preparing, seeking reliable information and support. I will look forward to hearing how you are doing afterward as you are up to sharing.
💫
Gynosaur

Initially a hysterectomy was my plan, and I had met with my surgeon. After I got the biopsy results, I decided against a hysterectomy, and will just monitor it
I’ve had complications with every one of my abdominal surgeries since my cancer diagnoses, and have a lot of scar tissue built up. So doing an elective hysterectomy just didn’t make sense for me, compared to the risks of complications. Had the biopsy revealed cancer, my surgeon would have done the surgery no matter how challenging. But the thought of a fifth open surgery in five years is too much for me. Good luck with your biopsy. I’m glad you have a doctor who gives you medication to help alleviate discomfort.

Wow, Lisa, our situations are so similar. My doctor thought my abdominal pain was IBS but wanted to be sure so sent me for tests. They found no reason for the pain but discovered the 6mm thickness. I have no bleeding either. Interesting about the D and C. Are you opting to get a hysterectomy?

I am post menopausal, and had no bleeding. I had a routine CT scan (I’m a colon cancer survivor) and it showed my lining was 6 cm thick. I wouldn’t have known if not for the scan. I opted for a D and C instead of endometrial biopsy. Everything came out as clear. I opted for the D and C because ultimately that would need to be done anyway to rule out cancer before a hysterectomy.

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.