Daughter refused transvaginal scan because of virginity

[Fej]

Our eldest daughter (19) has been experiencing a women's health issue that has required further investigation. She has been trying to get all of this done rather quickly, as she will moving abroad soon. When she went to have scans done, she was asked if she has ever had sex. After this question was asked, she was apparently told that they wouldn't be doing the transvaginal ultrasound, as they do not do them on women who are virgins. DD was very upset. She felt humiliated because the woman seemed surprised when she said no and even made a comment that she does not see that often with young women nowadays. DD has told me that she will just lie if asked in the future. It saddens me that she feels she has to lie to receive better treatment.

AIBU for feeling that this seems a very antiquated and outdated policy? Are they not aware that being a virgin does not necessarily mean that a woman has an intact hymen? Not to be vulgar but tampons and masturbation do exist. You would think that medical professionals would be aware of this. Someone shouldn't be denied superior medical care because of their sexual activity or lack thereof. Our daughters deserve better.

It's ridiculous. A consenting adult should have access to any necessary test/procedure.

My first question is, what's the alternative? Unfortunately I have found that they often go for the invasive option if it's cheaper or less hassle for them.

I found it a deeply unpleasant experience, and I'm obviously not a virgin! I can understand that they would warn you about that if you're a virgin - but the whole system is such a mess. I do wonder what the alternative is, if there is one. Will it be some sort of MRI?

if she's fine to have it and she'd rather have it, that's one thing - but the first question to ask in these situations, in my experience is - is it necessary? The second question is if it's one of those deeply unpleasant things, what are the alternatives?

editing to add - So often they treat women as specimens to be experimented on / I realise if you've had no experience of this it probably sounds mad, but there are plenty of women on this website who will know what I mean

Exactly the same for my DD (22).

Sorry, didnt mean to quote and can't un-do it in edit!

To anyone reading who might ever need one - I have had three or four and whilst I obviously didnt enjoy them I didn't find them deeply unpleasant. They are far, far less unpleasant than a smear test

My daughter had the same situation. They wouldn't explain why, just that they wouldn't.

That is ridiculous and misogynistic.
I have a friend who is a virgin and in her 40s. She still had smears etc, and also transvaginal scans when she had sinister symptoms that ended up being cancer (mid 30s at the time). Thank goodness she was allowed to have them.
I hope you and your DD complain, and she gets the tests she needs.

I wasn’t given a smear test until I had had sex for the first time which was my twenties. My female GP said I was almost certainly clear of HPV due to lack of sexual activity and also that it “wasn’t appropriate”. I don’t know what the excuse was for your DD.

Virgins have smear tests (and had them before the current ones, which most find easier than the old type with metal speculums).
A lot say the smear test is worse than a transvaginal scan, so I don't see the logic.

Do they also refuse to let lesbians have them if they’ve never been penetrated with a penis? What a load of bollocks.

I recently had a transvaginal scan and the letter said an alternative for women who had never had sex could be an external scan, but it didn’t say that was that was required in that circumstance. In fact it said this would be less accurate than a transvaginal scan.

I actually had a transvaginal scan at 19 for irregular bleeding too, and I don’t remember ever being asked if I’ve had sex. It was a while ago but I’m surprised that has changed.

A smear test is much worse!

I'm originally from the United States and was given a transvaginal ultrasound there (in a very Southern conservative Christian state) with absolutely no problem when I was still a virgin. I was only 16 too. Imagine how shocked I was when my daughter was denied one here solely because she was a virgin! It seemed very puritanical.

The alternative to a TVUSS is a transabdominal ultrasound scan (like they do for pregnancy).

The last TVUSS I had ended up giving me a UTI as the sonographer removed the probe so fast, bacteria was somehow introduced 😫

I personally am not in any hurry to have another one anytime soon and would always rather an alternative where possible.

As a virgin, I would be even less likely to want it!

The alternative is an external scan, but you have to have a full bladder during it. I was told this is less accurate than a transvaginal scan, so the latter is what’s encouraged.

Agree. I've had one and it was fine. I haven't had children.

That’s not ok. She should have been told of any additional medical risks, pain, side effects that might apply to her, and then given the choice.

The British Medical Ultrasound Society who produce uk guidelines on this state women who haven't had sex should still be given a choice. I would complain.

https://www.bmus.org/policies-statements-guidelines/professional-guidance/guidance-pages/tvguidance-for-practitioners/

This guidance shows your DD should have been offered the scan.

I would complain - does PALS cover the service provider? There should be info available about where to complain so your DD can get her scan and staff can get retraining.

Just Googled it and some Trusts (not all) do not carry out transvaginal scans on women who have not had penetrative sex and whose hymen is still intact. The reasoning is it’s more painful and carries a higher risk of infection. You learn something new everyday.

I tried to google around on this - found this FOI response from one of the hospitals:
https://www.uhnm.nhs.uk/media/ieafjtyo/202301222-foi-response-letter-transvaginal-ultrasounds-final-ref-556-222.pdf

seems to be to do with the walls around the hymen being more sensitive and therefore could be painful and or break the hymen which would cause bleeding.

I kind of get it from both sides - imagine all the complaints hospitals would get from breaking young women’s hymens. Then again, it’s that or being misdiagnosed.

It is NHS policy to not perform them on virgins. See links below.

https://www.uhnm.nhs.uk/media/ieafjtyo/202301222-foi-response-letter-transvaginal-ultrasounds-final-ref-556-222.pdf

www.royaldevon.nhs.uk/media/ck1naldk/foi-rdf1163-transvaginal-ultrasounds.pdf

Hymens can break due to things other than penetration.
Was OP's DD even examined to see if she even still had one?

It depends on the Trust, some of them will some won’t.

My dd was given the choice and she declined. She then had a laparoscopy.

My DD was allowed to have one. First she went to have one at a clinic that was attached to the Dr's they mainly do pregnancy. She was unable to go through with it. She was referred to gynaecology at the hospital. They did it and it was fine.