Vaginal ultrasound

[veryberry]

Hello, i'm having one tomorrow and just wondered if anyone knows how long it takes please?

If its for endo/cysts etc it only takes a few mins.Nothing to worry about honestly.

Not long. A few minutes normally. It's not unpleasant or painful.

Thanks. It's to see if I have any fibroids or cysts. I'm not too worried, although I can think of things I would rather be doing.

Far less unpleasant than a routine smear test iirc (no speculum, no scraping).

I'm actually quite pleased because the abdominal one means you have to have a full bladder which I would not cope with at all well.

it doesn't hurt at all. They come at you with a prong that looks like a bit like a dildo (!) and it's all lubed anyway and over in a jiffy. I found staring at all the cysts quite interesting (and completely forgot what they were doing down below).

Also, it seemed less invasive than a smear - they put a huge sheet over my bottom half and tilted the bed upwards (so it was like I was sitting in a large armchair iyswim) so there was none of this legs akimbo stuff (don't know if that is normal or not!)

pmsl @ foxinsocks!!

thats excatly what i thought it looked like too!

veryberry, absolutly nothing to worry about and not atall painfull.

I've had one for fibroids, too. IIRC she (the sonographer) had me lie on my side and on my back, and let me insert the probe myself. It was certainly less embarassing than I expected. It did seem to take quite a while, though. Probably between a dating scan and an anomaly scan.

Do they tell you what they can see? Are they allowed to tell you? I do hope so as my follow up with consultant is not till 12 Dec to discuss results.

I had one ages ago to check for polycycstic ovaries and then another early scan with my last pg.

It is basically a vibrador with a condom over the end lubed with KY. You lay there with your knees up and apart covered with a blanket whilst they 'slip it up' there!!!

The do usually tell you what they can see and if you get a nice consultant show you.

You do have to go back to GP to get official results though usually.

I asked lots of questions about the picture that came up on the screen (and they asked me lots too) so basically got my answers there and then but I'm not sure if they are supposed to tell you.

Oh that's good then,I will ask away.

yes, do that - I did it in a non-medical sort of way.

So rather than saying 'have I got polycystic ovaries' I said 'ooh, could you explain what I'm looking at here - I'm always interested in how these scans work. Isn't technology amazing' and then he seemed so pleased that I was interested (which I genuinely was!) that I got a guided tour of my ovaries

I had to have loads (due to IUI) and they are affectionately known by those in the know as "dildo cam"-they really are a breeze-don't worry!

Nice idea, foxisocks will try that. I will act ignorant (which I am) and hope that will work.

Unlike with an antenatal scan, I wasn't able to see the screen. Also, she made it absolutely clear that I would have another appointment at Gynae outpatients to discuss the findings.

Didn't find it very comfortable, but then I do have a prolapse. I was amused that she had my right knee tucked chummily into her right armpit!

I had a normal scan first and then was allowed to empty my bladder before the internal one, thank goodness.

Thanks everyone for your replies. merlotmama, I also have a prolapse with symptoms of frequent urination. They are doing a scan because when they examined me they 'felt' something which they say could be a fibroid or something which is prolapsing my bladder.

I had one when they were checking me at 10weeks only to find a blighted ovum.

I was shocked as it looked like a dildo and DH's face was a picture when he saw it, complete with condom and lube!

The woman was a bit over-amourous I must say and was using it like a boat oar but it didn't hurt at all, just felt weird.

You will be dandy!

If anything, all the cold lube afterwards, iyswim, is the worst bit!

Thanks Ladyoftheflowers. I'm taking my mum for moral support so I think I should forewarn her its not an abdominal one or she will be

it's not bad at all!

i had one yesterday to try to find a foetus, as i have a retroverted uterus.

i find smears much more uncomfortable because of the speculum.

Have had tons of these - 2 successful but complicated pgs, 3 first-trimester mcs. They (the scans) are fine, really. Depending on what they're for, they can be over in minutes.

Agree with everyone who says that it is not as bad as a smear - no where near! You are covered and don't have to do the 'ankles together knees apart' thing. They usually have a quick look then ask me "Am I in the right place?" while looking at the screen.
Doesn't hurt at all.
I wasn't given any info at my first scan - the one that lead to my diagnosis with PCO - but have been at subsequent ones. I think it depends on the person doing it.
Good luck - you will be fine