Was the sonographer being a creep?

[Owlmoonstar]

I had an ultrasound scan today to investigate pelvic pain.

Firstly it was external, like a typical pregnancy scan.

And then I was asked if I would like an internal exam, which I agreed.

During the internal scan, the sonographer (a man) touched my bum cheeks in a bit of a weird way.

If you can imagine the way your hand would grip the device, he then released his index and little finger and was kinda jiggling the skin near my bum crack.

He also did an in and out motion with the device, as one would with a dildo.

I don't know if I'm overthinking everything. It felt off at the time. But obviously I was just all kinda tensed up, staring at the ceiling trying to wish the entire procedure was over. Same as when you have a smear test. It's just an uncomfortable, unpleasant situation in general.

I just wanted to get it all off my chest and have some feedback really.

Having a scan, in an intimate area feels generally vulnerable, so I'm not sure if I'm being silly.

I will look into the complaint procedure tomorrow.

I honestly would have loved a chaperone who would have held my hand or made some idle chit chat with me. Anything to have made me feel like a human instead of an object. It was like being in a cold science lab with two robots.

He asked you if you wanted an internal exam?

So you didn't necessarily need one? You were there for the external scan and he then asked if you wanted an internal? Like, you didn't have to have one, it was optional? That's super weird in itself.

Ive had lots of internals the last 2 years for IVF, early pregnancy and miscarriage. Not once did even the tip of a finger touch me.

The in and out motion happend at almost every scan, but it wasn't just in and out, there would be tilting at all different angles of the device at the same time, it also never really came 'out' much, it would feel like it had just been pulled outwards a few cm at most.

If at any point they were moving in and out and angling differently, they would tell me they were going to do it, why, and apologise for any discomfort that I may feel

It does not sound normal to me

I would complain. Give the facts -
Didn’t explain what he was doing during or why
Had two fingers on your bottom near your anus
Nurse in the room was not watching the procedure/chaperoning
Kept removing and reinserting with no explanation
Then say you felt uncomfortable throughout the experience.

May I ask whereabouts (broadly) you are? I had a recent unsettling and similar sounding experience with a male sonographer trying to check the location of my coil.

Sounds very similar to something I experienced. My health centre contacted me afterwards to say I needed to have another scan as there had been concerns whether it had been conducted properly. Turned out the concerns were more around accuracy of multiple scans this pair had done, but I was very vocal about the bedside manner of both sonographer and chaperone (whose manner was just completely zoned out, similar to yours). They said I wasn't the first to raise that either. It was a few years ago but makes me wonder if they were the same pair. He was really quite rough and also didn't offer to cover me over with anything which really upset me.

I’ve also had lots of scans and never something like this, the probe is plenty ling enough their hands should not touch you.

Please raise this. If nothing else he needs to change his technique. No need to touch a bum ever. If anyone else complains it will become apparent there is an issue with him. It all sounds really suspect

In Germany internal ultrasound probes are used routinely at gynae visits (which women there typically do twice yearly just for checkup).

In years of internal ultrasounds I've had some slight moments of discomfort when checking for cysts. But nothing like what you describe, ever. And lots of talking, typicall. Do compain.

I once (in the US) had a gynaecologist stickt a finger up my rectum at the end of a postnatal vaginal exam. Done very quickly, over in a flash, too weird and embarrassing to raise. I imagine he did thay with lots of women, just to brighten his day.

I’ve had loads of internal scans and had one done today. Nobody has ever touched me apart from a woman who knew I was in a lot of pain and put her hand on my leg and said sorry she was hurting me basically
never in and out either, maybe a few cm to readjust the angle

I was coming on to say this. Surely you get referred for a particular scan. You don’t just choose to have a certain type 🫤

So what exactly are you complaining about? That it was inappropriate or that they did not make you feel at ease? You seem to be flitting between the two.

Sounds creepy and uncomfortable

No. Please don't spread that kind of nonsense.

I stand corrected, thank you @tinybeautiful
I was confusing the procedure with a hysteroscopy.

I had internal scans during my last pregnancy. At no point did their hand or fingers come into contact with any of my body, so this seems strange.

The moving in and out could be normal, they have to move the device about to find what they’re looking for. It’s hard to say though, was he doing it repeatedly for any length of time?

There should have been a chaperone during this procedure

That’s a bit of a harsh comment.

The OP can complain about anything she sees fit. Thats none of your business. She’s had an unpleasant experience, give her a break.

This is not right.

I’ve had a number of these and they absolutely never touched me other than with the wand itself.

I’ve had a few internal scans and I’ve never once had the sonographer’s fingers or hands touch my body at all. The in and out bit could be normal but it’s hard to say. In all my scans, there has been an assistant in the room who does exactly as you’ve mentioned and is on the computer but they are very friendly. Some of my scans have been in silence whilst they are checking certain things and taking measurements but normally they will explain things as and when they can.

Overall, it’s the touching for me that is very abnormal. The rest seems fairly standard and like I say, multiple internals (at least 6).

Medical staff are used to physical contact, and what can feel unusual to us often seems like nothing to them. Sometimes it feels like medical staff are overly touchy, but it's completely normal.

A few examples from my personal experience of things that seemed like they were going a bit too far, but weren't really:

(1) Endocrinologist holding my hand and stroking my hair.

(2) Cardiologist squeezing my arm reassuringly at the end of an exam.

(3) GP asked me to remove my underwear so he could examine my groin, when I came in with a complaint of a bump on my neck.

There are likely more examples, but just can't think of them now.

Often they will discuss with you if you are willing to have an internal. They should explain that the internal scan will provide more information and allow some greater accuracy in assessment, but if you aren’t happy they will report what they’ve got from the external. You are referred for a USS pelvis not specifically internal / external. The referral will give the symptoms and the query and the sonographer or radiologist will then collect the images and report on all pelvic anatomy as seen. TV trans vaginal scans are clearer, but with a decently full bladder a TA trans abdominal scan can be sufficient. It depends on many factors and some women don’t want the TV or cannot tolerate it.

Repositioning the probe is part and parcel. Touching you is a little odd, I think he needs to explain himself, be better chaperoned or think about his bedside manner and technique. Or all them.

The HCA is there to assist the sonographer or radiologist, complete any admin and to chaperone. During a TV scan he’s at risk of malicious accusations if he is not insisting the chaperon is doing proper chaperoning. I’m not for one second saying you’re being malicious. But the chaperone is there for your comfort and safety, but also to be an independent (ish) person in case of dispute.

you were uncomfortable, you weren’t properly offered a chaperone, it wasn’t clearly explained what was happening and his technique has made you feel violated. It needs to be reported so that lessons can be learnt and you can feel confident in future care.

It really doesn’t matter. Both are something a patient has every right to, and should, complain about. Particularly for intimate examinations which leave women completely vulnerable.