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Original poster

anyone had a transvaginal ultrasound?

60 replies

thinkimgoingtobesick · 13/01/2011 11:34

I am due to have one very soon, and naively thought it was just a regular ultrasound. Pretty shit-scared to be honest as last smear test was extremely painful - down to a "ragged and torn cervix- which is normal after childbirth" apparently (thank you nurse, feel so much better now, not)
Can anyone tell me if it's painful? How long it lasts? why the hell it's necessary when they could just do a regular ultrasound????

OP posts:

5inthebed · 13/01/2011 11:36

I have had several of them over the years, and they don't hurt. They put a condom on the ultrasound wand and insert it.

Honestly, it will be fine.

Eglu · 13/01/2011 11:36

I've had an internal ultrasound. It was with DS1 as they kept me waiting so long I needed to empty my bladder and they couldn't see anything on the normal scan. BI don't recall it hurting or even being that uncomfortable. It is smooth unlike the smear trying to rub cells from your cervix so shouldn't hurt in that way.

Is it a very early scan? That may be why.

MoonUnitAlpha · 13/01/2011 11:37

Wasn't painful, just a bit uncomfortable - they don't crank you open or scrape bits off you like a smear test.

It was necessary for me because they needed a good look at my ovaries and you get a much clearer picture internally.

belgo · 13/01/2011 11:37

Hello, sorry to hear you are worried.

I had one of these scans when I was having an early miscarriage. It is a very clear way of scanning the uterus.

It did not hurt at all.

crystalglasses · 13/01/2011 11:37

I've had one (or to be strictly honest it was attempted)and it was very painful but then it was found I had a cyst 'down there' which has now been treated.

AitchTwoOh · 13/01/2011 11:37

oh god yeah i've had gazillions of them. nothing to worry about at all. they're not bashing around your cervix, tbh, they're just positioning the wand so as to see your insides.

bumpybecky · 13/01/2011 11:38

I had one in early pregnancy with dd2, about 6-7 weeks. The couldn't find her by regular ultrasound and needed to rule out an ectopic (there were other signs there might be a problem).

It didn't hurt, was slightly uncomfortable (they put the probe thing inside you which is a bit unnerving, even with lube!). I can't remember how long it lasted, so can't have been long! They tried a normal one first, and had to go TV. I was in floods of tears as was so relieved it wasn't an ectopic and that she was in the right place. I'm always a bit overemotional in early pg though!

Just try to relax as much as you can. The ultrasound person will have seen it all before and should be used to calming people down. Lots of big breaths and try to relax :) Hope it's all ok :)

Flojo1979 · 13/01/2011 11:39

These ultrasounds are much clearer.
I didnt find it painful at all (since child birth find smears excruciating) They only go in a little way so dont worry, its about the same as if u inserted a tampon and remember its covered in KY!

PacificDogwood · 13/01/2011 11:41

I've had several as well.

Not sore.
Not uncomfortable.
May be embarrassing to some but I have No Shame and the technicians really only stare at the screen and not at you or your bits.
Amazing clear picture of the Bean - much much better than regular through-the-tummy-wall scans

If you can have intercourse without pain, then the scan will be a doddle, honest!

piratecat · 13/01/2011 11:41

have had one yrs ago, before i had a baby, it's a wand thingy, doesn't hurt.

suwoo · 13/01/2011 11:43

I've had a few too. Because they put a condom on it and lube it up it goes in very easily. .

The probe is much smaller than a penis so you should be absolutely fine.

systemsaddict · 13/01/2011 11:48

Yes, had several. Don't hurt, the tube is thin and very smooth. They get a better picture. Not embarrassing at all - in fact the most recent one the technician even had me put it in myself, before she then moved it around. don't worry! nothing like a smear at all.

Original poster

thinkimgoingtobesick · 13/01/2011 11:58

wow did not expect so many replies, thank you so much everyone for your reassurance.
crystalglasses sorry to hear about your cyst, but glad it's gone
Flojo I am the same, never used to feel as painful having a smear before kids either
I'm not prego (at least not that i'm aware of!) but have a lump that needs checking....could be down to nasty c-section scar, i say c-section but my section wound burst and i had to have further surgery, not sure if anyone else has had that pleasure.
Thank you all again, was very bugged out

also were you allowed to have anyone in the room? want DH in but letter says they dont usually allow it

OP posts:

ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 13/01/2011 12:02

I have had many due to retroverted uterus. They are easy peasy. The probe only goes into the edge of your vagina it doesn't go in deep at all. You have no need to worry. The sonographer will do it all without even looking. You are covered with a sheet to protect your modesty.

Dildo-cam I call it

PacificDogwood · 13/01/2011 12:03

Dh was in for all of mine, but they were pregnancy related after recurring MCs so were quite tense for both of us.

I would imagine if you asked nicely they might be flexible?

MrsTittleMouse · 13/01/2011 12:10

I've had several and they have all been fine. During a smear they have to scrap off a layer of cells, so they can't be too gentle. The ultrasound probe is very smooth, so as eglu says, it isn't uncomfortable at all. And they let my DH in for all of them - well worth asking, particularly as you're nervous - better for them if you can be more relaxed.

You do get a much better picture with an internal for lots of non-pregnancy stuff. I've had my ovaries and the lining of my womb examined. Plus I've had early pregnancy scans. I'm almost an old hand. :) It really isn't the big deal that you think it's going to be. :)

AitchTwoOh · 13/01/2011 12:28

dh was there for all of mine as they were preg-related. they dim the lights first, which i always thought was very sweet, and your legs are under a cloth so they do it 'blind', lol.

also, if you mentally refer to it as 'fanny cam' that helps take the anxiety out of it.

Original poster

thinkimgoingtobesick · 13/01/2011 12:35

thank you again, I will ask about DH tho just occurred to me will have baby with us so maybe best I go it alone, esp as you've all made me feel seiously more relaxed about it especially alovelybunchofcoconuts

OP posts:

Original poster

thinkimgoingtobesick · 13/01/2011 12:37

and AitchTwoOh he he

OP posts:

CrystalQueen · 13/01/2011 12:40

I had one to check for ovarian cysts. My advice is to keep your socks on! Sounds stupid but I was called from the waiting room to a changing room and told to strip and put on a gown. I was then sent to wait in another waiting area (NB this was totally separate to the outside room, so no chance of random people seeing me, but still didn't like hanging about with no knickers). My feet got really cold. The actual scan was a breeze.

I had on in early pregnancy as well, in the antenatal bit of the hospital. My DH was told to move round to stand by my head - really, he had seen my bits plenty of times before!

Original poster

thinkimgoingtobesick · 13/01/2011 14:20

hmm, will wear some extra thick socks methinks, thanks for the tip

OP posts:

EdnaTheInebriateWoman · 13/01/2011 14:24

The nurse joked with me i should have gone private as theirs vibrate

CatIsSleepy · 13/01/2011 14:26

I've had a couple, they're fine, much less invasive than having a smear done

Deafworm · 13/01/2011 14:34

i had one when we were having fertility investigations, wasnt painful at all but i did have a bit of a shock as i wasnt told what sort of scan it was going to be so i went all ready for a normal ultrasound scan and get myself on the bed, assume the position etc etc when the sonographer (i think) pulled out the long scanning wand and a condom! fortunately she saw the look on my face and explained properly before i had the chance to run :o

A1980 · 13/01/2011 23:10

I barely felt a thing and it was over in 2-3 minutes. They put a condom over it and lube it up with KY and so I barely felt a thing. It's a very thin probe too.

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