Internal ultrasound

[WheresTheEvidence]

I have an imaternal ultrasound booked for Thursday and have come onto my period today. Painful period. They have said they will still do the examination but I'm worried about pain. Can I. Dose up on feminax beforehand to dull the pain. I always have painful smears.

Don't worry it's not painful. I've had loads of these. The probe is a bit like a wooden spoon handle- slightly thicker. They use a condom on it and loads of lube. I find it less 'painful' than a smear because they don't have to prise you open. You honestly won't need painkillers and the whole thing takes no more than 3-4 minutes.

Thank you for that - it's a relief :)

Feel a bit bad as it is as there's a chance it's not gynae but dietary issues instead. Might as well check everything is fine (well as fine as it can be I have unconfirmed pcos)

I had an internal ultrasound and was surprised at how quick and painless it was. I guess I had expected it to be something like a smear but it was nothing like that.
She inserted the probe (not that far inside) and then looked on the little computer to take screen shots of the images and then removed it. Job done!

Oh thank you. As you can tell I'm a bit unsure and with the added period in just feeling really bad about the whole thing.

It really doesn't hurt. They use a ton of lube!
Usually they do the pelvic ultrasound first to rule out other usual issues as it's a quick and easy procedure before checking other areas.

Just to agree with everyone else. They are not that painful, and over quickly.

All the best x

They always put a wedge shaped cushion under your bottom to lift your pelvis to the right angle, and I've always had a 'modesty sheet' to cover everything else!
You also don't need to have a full bladder, unlike an 'over the tummy' scan.

The paper work I got said full bladder and so did the check in team?

You need the full bladder so they can do the external scan bits , then they send you for a wee before they do the internal bit . I had one done recently , it's fine.

They will do a scan from the outside, like a pregnancy scan first, while your bladder is full. Then you can go for a wee and they do the internal.

Like the others have said it really doesn't hurt, the probe is very slim so nothing like a smear.

I had one recently and was nervous too due to how incomfortable smears are. But there's nothing to worry about I promise.

well, I've had loads and was told at the first one at a very prestigious private London hospital that the bonus of the TVS was no full bladder needed. The images come from the probe in the vagina- having a full bladder makes no difference.

sorry, but if the booking is for an internal scan, why would they do one of the abdomen first? If it's a TVS then they do just that.

I don't know Polly. I know my doctor referred me for a TVS and the paper work also says this but it says drink 1 litre of water and when questioned when booking the appointment the staff also said the same. Maybe it's because it's the NHS and not a prestigious fancy London one.

Polly
Evidence

I was booked in for an internal scan to check an ovarian cyst, however, at the appointment, they decided to do a normal scan on the tummy to make sure my kidneys were ok. They prefer you to have a full bladder for this. At your appointment they may not do a tummy scan, however it gives them the option depending on what they are looking for.

Full bladder for tummy scan. Empty bladder for internal.

It doesn't hurt at all.

Forever

I don't know why you have put evidence in bold. Are you asking for evidence or giving it?

The evidence I'm giving is my experience of scans- had around 12 at least, all TVS.

The first one was 'unplanned' as in done on the day as part of a gynae MOT , so I had no paperwork beforehand.

I was told by the nurses that a TVS gave better pictures and was given the choice of a TVS or abdo scan. They persuaded me that a TVS was preferable because it needed no full bladder (and gave better pics of the ovaries.) I was apprehensive as it was an internal scan, and not over the tummy, but they reassured me the results were better.

I can't speak for the procedure in other hospitals but all I can say is that TVS alone does not require a full bladder.

OP Hope it goes well and let us know .

Just to add I had an internal scan while bleeding from a miscarriage so you having your period won't phase them at all.
As others have said, it also wasn't half as bad as I'd anticipated, so hope all goes well today.

When I've had internals for PCOS they do an external too, to check kidneys.

Just don't do as I did - when the radiographer showed me my kidney on screen I exclaimed "ooohhh it looks just like a kidney bean!" ... Erm, yes dear, came the reply. D'oh!

It's much nicer than a smear,over and done with very quickly and pain free! X

Not painful at all. I find smears agony but the scan wasn't.

Polly I wrote the word Evidence in bold as I was also speaking to the other user 'WheresTheEvidence', sorry this was confusing.