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The original was posted on /r/twoxchromosomes by /u/Arrenil on 2023-08-29 13:05:12.
I know so many people have awful experiences with gynaecologists and healthcare practitioners regarding female reproductive health etc., myself included. That’s why I wanted to share that I’ve just had a really positive one and my husband and I were legitimately shocked by how nice and understanding the doc was.
I was prepared to really have to fight my corner to get pain relief for a smear test because otherwise it’s agonising, and I’m at a new hospital so not the one who let me have it before. The hospital before only let me have it as a last resort after they insisted they try it pain relief free a couple times to see how much it hurt 🙄
I even brought my husband to this appointment with me because I always do ever since a doctor tried to rip a merina coil out of me when it was causing me agonising pain. I said no and he even tried to pull it out which hurt like hell and only stopped when my husband intervened, then he listened to my husband.
Anyway, we were expecting a fight and instead this wonderful doctor just said what she can do to help and assured me I wasn’t alone and that many other people with vaginas have to have pain relief for smear tests. She even offered to make the appointment a double one so I had more time to relax and get through the appointment without rushing. I mean, that was more than I could have asked for.
There was no hint of any judgement or questions to ask why I thought it hurt more than anyone else’s. I didn’t have to prove anything and she never spoke to my husband the whole time (unlike some doctors who have asked him if he agreed with my answers 😡)
We were so relieved afterwards and I will get a letter for an appointment at some point soon. I’m still shocked. Thank fuck for good people and the NHS - when it works, it really works.