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.

That’s because an experience like this is confusing. You’re in a vulnerable state and it takes a while to work out what happened. No need for dismissive language like ‘flitting.’

Yeah part of their job should be to put you at ease, check in with you as it's a particularly vulnerable exam. I also agree that having a friendly chatty lady can help put you at ease. In future could you request a woman examiner?

I know it's their job and they do it day in and day out but it's extremely personal for us. They should also check if we're okay with who is doing the procedure, lots of women have a history of trauma which can be triggering. At the end of the day they have a duty of care.

Taking all these comments on board.

And as for the one weird comment. I'm not flitting between the two. I'm just trying to make sense of the entire experience.

For some reason you are the only person who can't understand that.

That sounds rather pointless.

I think this is why they shouldn’t be asking you to allow a man to do this. I had a female and it was as dignified as possible, she talked me through everything as she did it and she definitely didn’t touch me in any way that felt ‘off’.

It’s a tricky one. Do you feel you have enough to report or would you just ask for a female next time?

I know it’s not the same but I was still bleeding a long time after birth so went for an ultrasound. The doctor / clinician didn’t acknowledge me when I walked in the door. Then he said he was going to do an internal scan not ultrasound sound on the belly as planned. He was rude and dismissive and I just thought mate if you want to stick something up my fanny unexpectedly you’ve got to say hello to me at least. I left without the examination.

years ago I would have done it but not anymore.

You absolutely can explain what he did factually and see what the hospital think.

It’s not for the OP to determine if it needs investigating and how it is to be processed. She just needs to document it and tell the department she felt uncomfortable and why. It’s enough.

I've had it done by a female and there was no touching. I would never have had a man do it. I'm sorry this happened, the bum touch sounds weird and violating.

Hmm difficult to say. When I had these, I used to have to make my hands into fists and put them under my bum. But the fact he didn't tell you why he was doing it is very odd. I can understand why you felt uncomfortable.

I'd have thought that finding precisely the right angle has to be a subtle type of movement?

I dunno. In and out? Really slowly? No.
Side to side and alternating angles? Yes.

Was there any reason for the internal scan? I didn't think it was something routinely offered, only if they needed to see better? That's the first thing that stood out to me.

The chaperone is going to be junior to the practitioner so quite likely less assertive about where they are positioned, despite how many courses they have been on.

Was he chaperoned?

Please report this to the Health and Care Professions Council who regulate radiographers. This is inappropriate behaviour on so many levels. They will investigate even if you don’t report to his employer.

www.hcpc-uk.org/public/what-should-i-do-if-i-am-unhappy-with-an-hcpc-registered-professional/

Was this by any chance in SW London/Surrey area? I have a friends who wasn’t comfortable with how a scan was performed. Not quite the same but it reminded me of her story.

A finger up the rectum is standard in any immediate postnatal vaginal examination to check that any pelvic damage has not extended to the tissue surrounding the anus. It is possible although not common for serious damage to happen around this area accompanying what looks superficially like an intact perineum. I’m a midwife and we are taught to ask the woman to squeeze a lubricated gloved finger to check muscle integrity.

He absolutely should have explained and checked though!!!

I haven't read all posts but could he have needed to touch you to get better access? This could be related to body size. As in, if you are bigger, there might be more need to reposition you to get better access.

OP it sounds like a horrible experience and I would raise it because at the very least, he needs to reflect on his communication and the quality of how he seeks informed consent.

Difficult without being there or trained to undertake the scan in question to know if he was being creepy - the in/out motion sounds like it could be normal scanning practice, there is always a lol of back/forwards (I’m only trained to do external fetal position scans tbf) BUT he should have asked and explained the process and certainly before touching any of your external body with his fingers.

The scan was to investigate ovary pain.

Hi Op, I haven't read all the comments but I have read yours. I have also had more than 50 internal scans like PP and I also think you should report it. I would actually be more inclined to frame it as a complaint than not as I agree it is breaching standard practice, even if not intentionally with bad intent

I agree that the chaperone should have been able to see what the scanner was doing- they have always been at the foot of the table essentially watching the doctor when I have had them.

The scanner has never touched my bottom or made contact with my bottom half as you have described.

He should have also been wearing gloves- not clear on if that was the case.

The in and out motion is hard to understand and whether it was inappropriate or not. Certainly if it had been fully removed and then reinserted then he should have explained why and what was being done. I don't recall it ever having been moved more than a tiny bit "out", more to different angles and aiming at different sides of the body (in my case to see ovaries). I've had many male drs performing these scans and never felt uncomfortable or that it was "like a dildo" in the movements.

And as others have said- they should have been talking and explaining what was being done throughout.. I have also has a neck ultrasound with NHS and the sonographer then did do this talking and explaining throughout, as well as making small talk.

I'm sorry you feel like this. It does sound like it was at the very least breaking the guidance of how it should have been dealt with.

No I'm small. And the touching of the bum crack area was done at the same time as the probe going in and out.

I recently had a similar scan and found it an entirely odd experience. There was definitely in and out motion but the woman who did it didn't touch me as far as I remember...there was another woman there and I found it really odd as she came and has a merry chat with me whilst the uncomfortable bit was going on which I found so strange but I realise from this thread may have been safeguarding. I would say the whole thing was very clinical and nothing was explained to me...but I didn't feel uncomfortable and I think for that reason you should report what happened

I have had a LOT of internal scans - easily double digits (I’ve had 4 miscarriages, problems early on in my successful pregnancy and I also have endometriosis & adenomyosis).

I have to say I have never experienced anything like you describe. Yes, sometimes they need to adjust the wand to get a better look (I have a tilted womb and ovaries that like to play hide & seek) but this tends to be more of a side-to-side or diagonal movement rather than back and forth if that makes sense? Hands stay on the wand, I’ve never had any fingers near me outside of an internal exam (which would take place in a completely different setting). More importantly the sonographer usually warns me I might feel some discomfort and that I can tell them if I need them to stop.

I’m no expert by any means but it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced and doesn’t sound right to me.

Thankyou for sharing your experiences.

It was all just a bad experience and the coldness of the sonographer and chaperone made it even worse.

It's been good to chat about it openly on here and process my thoughts.

They didn't make me feel comfortable. Not even so much as a warm smile from the chaperone

Did you actually need an internal?