HELP! BLEEDING AND I DONT KNOW WHY!

Hi, my name is Martine and I am 27 and extremely worried. I have had numerous abnormal smears, had a colposcopy in 2007; then another abnormal smear reading CIN 2/3 and had to get LEEP done in end of 2007.

Now recently I have been bleeding, not only after intercourse. I was due a smear so I went to the doctors. The nurse was unable to get a smear done as she said I was bleeding. She brought me back a week later. She said as my womb was tilted awkwardly she could not do a smear, so she asked the doctor to try and he said I was also bleeding.

I explained my concern about my bleeding. I told him it was not only after intercourse. Since then he said he cannot do a smear on me due to the tilt of my womb and has referred me to gynae outpatients. I am currently awaiting an appointment to go get a smear. I am really worried as It has been the last few months now that I have been bleeding and also have brown discharge, this has occurred after intercourse, and also even when I havent had intercourse. I find this issue puts me off having sex.

Please help, I thought that having the LEEP that this would solve the issue. I am really worried. Also, I worry will this cause me problems with fertility. Also, do you think being on the pill is causing the bleeding? I have been getting into an awful habit of just continuing my pill and not having a period, do you think not taking regular breaks for periods would cause this bleeding? I am really worried and I feel my doctor doesnt give a damn. I had to remind him to refer me for a smear!

Please give me your advice. Really appreciate it. Martine

By Eimaj
Posted March 22, 2009 at 3:46 am
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I watched an Oprah show not too long ago and there was an OB/GYN on. She said there was absolutely nothing wrong with continuing on active birth control pills and not having a period. I have a good friend who does the same thing.

You should always been concerned about any bleeding between periods, especially after intercourse. That is how I knew for certain something was wrong with me. I had very strange smelling discharge, along with some pelvic discomfort and then light bleeding after sex. I went to get a pap, it was abnormal, had a colp/biop and I then was told I had cervical cancer.

By Martii
Posted March 22, 2009 at 8:07 am
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Hi Eimaj

Thank you for your message. I really hope I am ok and dont have cervical cancer. So worried. How have you handled it? I am so sorry your results were bad.

Martine

By Eimaj
Posted March 22, 2009 at 8:30 am
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It has been a very difficult time. I am 44 years old and have never had any major medical issues. This was my first and it was a DOOZY!!

Although, I was lucky in many ways. I had been self-employed and uninsured for many years. 3 months before my diagnosis I got a job that provided full medical benefits..

I also got very lucky that my cancer was caught very early, stage 1a1. I had the surgery and need no further treatment.

I wish you all the best and sincerely hope you DON'T have cancer.

By Daniela
Posted April 1, 2009 at 7:08 am
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I am sorry to hear about your problem, but I am experiencing the same issue.
I had a cold coagulation in the UK last July 2008 and since then I have had several times post-coital bleeding.
my last pap smear came back normal and I am seeing another doctor this week to find out why I am still bleeding.
Daniela

By Martii
Posted April 1, 2009 at 2:38 pm
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Isnt it awful Daniella. I have just got an appointment to go for another colposcopy in a few weeks so Im not looking forward to it. You have to let me know how your appointment goes. Its terrible how it puts you off making love and intimacy isnt it.

By Daniela
Posted April 5, 2009 at 1:51 pm
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Hi Martii
1. I had a cold coagulation treatment (this is different from LEEP, it is like a laser treatment) in July 2008 and since then I have been bleeding after intercourse.
2. I had a pap-smear and HPV test in November 2008 and they all came back negative.
3. I repeated my smear test last week March2009 and I am now waiting for my results. During the test my cervix bled just by touching it.
4. I have been to 3 different GPs in the NHS they all say that my cervix hasn't healed entirely, but they didn't check it. One said I was unlucky.
5. I decided to go to a private doctor last week to get another opinion. He performed a scan, a colposcopy and a thin prep smear test. The colposcopy didn't show any abnormality, but just to be safe he wants to do a biopsy next week.
If the biopsy is ok he said he will perform a cauterization to help with the bleeding.
6. I didn't tell my GP here in the UK about this private dotor and I managed to get another appointment through the NHS to see another gyn.
7. This other gyn wants to do a D&C and a Hysteroscopy. He wants to access the endocervix, which can't be seen during a colposcopy.
8. I am being very persistent in trying to find out the reasons why I am still bleeding as I don't find it normal. Overall, people get treatment and don't experience bleeding during 10 months after. I hope it is nothing serious, but I don't want to leave things unchecked.
9. Basically, I am spending my savings to get checked and I am trying to be positive about the whole thing.
10. Hope we can keep in touch and support each other. Let me know how your appointment went.
PS: in terms of intimacy my partner has been very supportive and we have decided to stay a few months without full intercourse to see if this helps.
kind wishes
Daniela

By Martii
Posted April 12, 2009 at 9:43 am
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Hi Daniela
Thank you for sharing your story with me. I seem to be in the same boat as you. I find this has put a strain on me and my partner's intimate life. It has put me off wanting to do anything. I just hope things get sorted out soon. Yes I do hope we stay in touch. Please let me know how things are going. I have a hospital appointment next week for colposcopy - yet again. So fingers crossed I get an answer becaause people dont realise how interfering bleeding can be when you are in a relationship. I dont think they would understand unless going through the same thing.

Please keep in touch and I hope I help you as you are helping me. Lots of love,

Martine

By Daniela
Posted April 15, 2009 at 9:06 am
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Hi Martii

I had my D&C and hysteroscopy done yesterday and the doctor said there was nothing abnormal, but I need to wait for my endometrial biopsy results.

The bleeding is really coming from my cervix and the doctor couldn’t find an explanation for it. He said I should repeat my pap smear every six months.

Before all that I went to another doctor to get a second opinion and he said he will cauterise the cervix with nitrate and that should help with the bleeding.

I also went to a doctor specialised in immunisation (Breakspear Medical Group in the UK) and she gave me a couple of vitamins such as coriolus, folic acid methylcobalamin, vitamin A an zinc to help the healing. I will follow this for the next month and if it doesn’t help she will probably use some applications. She also said for me to repeat my HPV test and if it comes back negative (no HPV 16 in my case) she will give me the Gardasil vaccine to help my immunity. She also said my partner should be checked and if he doesn’t have the virus he should also get Gardasil.

In summary, I have had to deal with all that over the last 10 months and it hasn’t been easy, but I am keeping positive and trying to fill in my time with activities that I like such as running, swimming, reading, meeting friends, etc.

I also want to say that I found a tampon called gynotex from Holland that resembles the old cervical cap that women used in the past. Some women use this tampon during intercourse while they are having their period and perhaps you could discuss it with your gynaecologist. I have never tried it, but look at their website and it is a legitimate company from Holland.

Please note I am not in a way try to give you any medical advice, just sharing my experiences.

Kind regards Daniela

By momof4_1985
Posted April 15, 2009 at 11:58 am
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Hi Martii,

I am new to this whole thing as well as still pretty new to this site. I don't know exactly what to tell you hon, but, I just wanted to leave you a message and tell you that I will pray for you sweetie. I really feel so bad for you and I am sure that you are terrified right now and it's not fair for you as well as every woman to go through this kind of horrifying ordeal. I pray that you will get through this and in the end, you will come out perfectly fine and have a fully restored health.

Here for you if you need a friend... :-)

Lynn

By j0987
Posted April 28, 2009 at 7:38 am
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Hi

I just wanted to maybe put your mind at rest and tell you what happened to me because it sounds like it could be the pill. I had some abnormal smears and was having bleeding after sex (but never any pain) and in between periods. I went to the dr who explained it was probably because I had been on the pill for a while and when I had the colposcopy they could see it was something called an ectropic which means 'inside out' and is basically where the cervix cells move and the more sensitive cells are now more accessible - it's a much darker patch on the inside. I have had all results clear from subsequent smears but they did explain that having the extropic can make it harder to tell.
I've had it cauterized which helped once but I might need to have it again. I hope it's just that, although I fully know how annoying it can be - but coming off the pill could help.
Take care
J

By bmood
Posted April 28, 2009 at 3:49 pm
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Hi, Martii, I am no longer a young woman, and I have already been through menopause. However, I can tell you about my daughter. She was bleeding between periods, and even had some pelvic pains. The doctor took her off the birth control pill, and this all cleared up. Also, I know that my daughter's friend was having similar bleeding after intercourse and also some dark brownish discharge (which is just blood that has dried and is passing on out). She went to the doctor and found out that she had endometriosis. There are always other reasons why things happen. Don't buy trouble. Just wait and see what the tests results will show.

Welcome to Inspire!

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