Having been hugely anxious about today's biopsy I thought I'd report how it went to hopefully reassure others. As mentioned I was very anxious & didn't think I would be able to go through with it, I was actually in tears in the consultation room. Fortunately my Consultant was fantastic, she didn't make me feel silly & she told me she'd explain exactly what was involved so I could decide if I wanted to try to have it done today or if I'd rather wait for a general anaesthetic appointment. Having been reassured I could halt the procedure at any time I said I'd give it a go.
This is how it went... Just as with a smear I took off my clothes below the waist & lay down on the examination couch covered with a sheet. There was a nurse by my side to assist the consultant & to reassure me. The consultant opened my vagina with the speculum & checked to see if everything looked ok, it did phew! She then used a thing called a Tenaculum to hold my cervix in place. The Tenaculum looked like a very thin knitting needle with a tiny hook at end. She told me I'd feel a little pain as it hooked in. The pain lasted a second. it was like when I prick my finger with a pin when sewing. Next came the pipelle which she inserted through the front & rear openings in my cervix & into my uterus. I had expected that at 8yrs post menopause this would've agony as my cervix would have welded shut with lack of use, but thankfully it wasn't. The insertion was an odd sensation but not at all painful. Then the suction to take the biopsy began. I had imagined a vacuum like device sucking out my insides when in fact it's a very thin tube, the suction done by hand & I hardly felt a thing as it took the biopsies. The pipelle was then withdrawn & the contents put in a container to send to the lab. The speculum was removed & it was all done, it had taken 10 minutes tops. I got dressed & asked questions like how long till I find out the results (4-6weeks) & how would I be notified (by letter). After all my anxiety I was over joyed I'd done it & felt a bit foolish for having been so upset. The Consultant & Nurse couldn't have been nicer or more supportive, they were amazing, in fact I think I hugged them such was my relief. For reference I am 58yrs old with two virginal births. I use HRT patches. I had previously had a TVS with my endometrium measuring 6.5mm. I now await the results.