"My own experience at my colposcopy appointment"

This isn’t a review intended to cause fear to others who might undergo the same process, but it simply reflects my own experience with a particular member of staff. Following an irregular pap smear, a colposcopy with a biopsy was performed at St John's Hospital. This was by far the worst experience I’ve ever had with a medical professional.

The doctor who performed the biopsy made me feel that I wasn’t being listened to at all and left me with very little space for asking questions prior to the process, whereas the overall attitude remained indifferent and cold. The nurse who was with us in the room was the only one who showed genuine care and provided me with some comfort. After the doctor collected the sample, they immediately left the room and didn’t explain anything to me about aftercare and what I should be expecting. Feeling perplexed by the lack of instructions by the doctor, I simply put my clothes on and left without any time to compose myself.

Due to this lack of information, I was also completely unprepared for the pain and discomfort that would follow the procedure during the five ensuing days. This was overall a very unsettling experience that definitely had an impact on me.