10 things you need to know about recovering from a Traumatic Gynaecology experience.

Written By Ainsley DS

Recovering from a traumatic gynaecological experience can be a challenging and deeply personal journey that can leave us feeling incredibly isolated and broken. But there are some important things you need to remember as you begin your journey to recovery.

  1. It was not your fault. It is the medical professionals job to protect you, to listen to you and to keep you safe and comfortable.

  2. You have every right to feel angry, betrayed, violated, hurt and distrustful. 

  3. Your pain is valid. You are not crazy, you are not weak. 

  4. You are not alone. This is a (far too) common experience and many people are deeply affected by it. 

  5. Many people have painless and easy procedures, this doesn’t mean you’re fragile or have a low pain tolerance. Everyone has different bodies and their gynaecology experience can vary depending on lots of things like whether or not they have had a vaginal birth, the size and shape of their cervix, previous trauma, endometriosis and PCOS issues, muscle tightness, the experience of the person performing the procedure etc. Do not let someone else’s story invalidate your experience.  

  6. Some people may not ever get what you went through and that’s okay. Make some connections to people who have had similar experiences.

  7. If you can and feel up to it, make a formal complaint to the healthcare provider. This can help bring about change to the way procedures are done and help healthcare providers realize they are causing harm.

  8. If you feel you need it, seek counseling/ therapy as soon as you can. It’s important that you have someone you trust that can help you recover from your experience. Visit our Where to Find Help tab if you are in Aotearoa New Zealand.

  9. It will take time for you to feel like yourself again. Give yourself time, be kind to yourself, don’t rush it. 

  10. You will be okay. You will feel like yourself again. You will feel comfortable in your body again. x

It can sometimes be a really long and difficult journey to recover from an experience like this, but you are already on the right track to healing. You’ve got this.

And just remember…

You Deserve Better. X

Ainsley DS