"Painful hysteroscopy"

Today I had an outpatient hysteroscopy, this was carried out due to problems with bleeding between periods. Prior to the appointment, I received an information leaflet explaining the procedure but not giving advice about taking painkillers beforehand. So on arrival I was given codeine and paracetamol. I had an inkling that this might mean some pain was expected, I asked the nurse about this, she said most people don't find the procedure painful but there may be cramping pains afterwards.

I was actually completely shocked by how painful this procedure is. I wasn't offered any local anaesthetic, even though I was in pain at the beginning of the procedure and the leaflet said that this could be offered. And once the camera had actually burst through the cervix (that's how it felt) the pain of the water being pumped into the uterus was unbearable. It was over quickly but I was lightheaded and felt like fainting at points during the process. It's the most painful procedure I've ever had & probably 9/10 on the pain scale for me. & I have given birth naturally. Also, 7 hours after the procedure I'm still in quite a lot of pain.

On returning home I did some research (I didn't do this before as I hadn't wanted to worry) and found that 11-25% of women find this procedure 'excruciatingly painful', yet in the UK general anaesthetic is almost never used. Needless to say, it didn't say that on the information leaflet I was sent! !

I think this is shocking, is this the nature of a more austere NHS, where we have to put up with pain and just be glad we're getting it done?