Student Testimonies

September 2024 Update

BSGE Endometriosis Centre

“I was recently given the opportunity to shadow a BSGE clinical lead at a centre for endometriosis care nearby. I spent 2 days in surgery with him and it was an eye opening and insightful experience. I watched several robotic surgeries including total hysterectomies with bilateral salpingectomies, endometriosis diagnosis and excision (including complex bowel shaves due to rectal and pararectal deep infiltrating endometriosis) and hysteroscopies. I was able to chat to the anaesthetist working with the surgeons and he provided an interesting take on how operating theatre personalities work. He said that Anaesthetists are pack animals whilst surgeons are the lone wolves, which I thought was interesting as we watched everyone work together in the room, so although the surgeon worked more independently, the job still greatly relied on their ability to communicate with everyone in the room. We met lots of people from all over the theatre department, even helping out with anaesthetist trainee scenarios pretending to be annoyed impatient surgeons while they attempted difficult intubations. I felt very sorry for them but understand why practice under high pressure is important. The week was an incredible opportunity and I learnt so much about surgery and gynaecology.” – Megan Lawrence, University of Liverpool 

Glasgow Royal Infirmary

“I undertook an O&G taster block at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. I definitely would recommend this experience to other students or junior doctors. Throughout these weeks I had many varied different opportunities. I had exposure to both obstetrics and gynaecology. This was particularly valuable as Glasgow Royal Infirmary is one of the busiest units in Glasgow. I had one particular memorable experience at a paediatric gynaecology clinic. In this clinic I was exposed to many conditions I had not only never seen but never heard of before. For example, Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome a disorder that affects the female reproductive system. I saw first hand at how much these conditions affect young woman and it was very powerful to see.” – Annie Gould, Dundee University

O&G Clinical Rotation

“During my O&G placement in general practice, I had an encounter with a patient who had been reluctant to attend her cervical smear appointments. She expressed anxiety about the procedure and uncertainty about its importance. I took the time to explain the significance of cervical smears in detecting early signs of cervical cancer. I emphasised that regular screening can identify precancerous changes, allowing for early intervention and potentially preventing the development of cancer. I encouraged the patient to take control of her health by participating in these screening programs. We discussed how these simple procedures could significantly impact her long-term health outcomes. By the end of our conversation, the patient expressed a new understanding of the importance of these screenings. She agreed to schedule her overdue cervical smear. This experience highlighted the crucial role of patient education in preventive healthcare. By taking the time to explain and address concerns, we can empower patients to make informed decisions about their health and potentially save lives through early detection of cancers.” – Annie Benning, University of Warwick