my friend had this happen at her 20 week scan - is this normal?

[Keenoonvino]

She has just told me that to check her cervix, the sonographer went up her bumhole for a look. Is this normal?! She said he didn't really explain anything just did it. She had her partner in the room with her.

I am dying of curiosity wondering if this is normal or not and if so, why has this not happened to me, anyone I know, or in anything I've read?!? I don't want to press her for any more details...

I've never heard of this, the sonographer should have given a better explanation than just checking the cervix!

Yes, it can be normal for a sonographer to check your cervix. I've had this many times after losses (they check different things to a MW).

No, it's never done via the bum!

Yes, absolutely. TV, not up the bum! I was replying to mike who suggested that sonographers don't check cervixes.

We do seem to have a lot of threads about inserting things into orifices at the moment .

We really do need a specialist Topic for this stuff. Seems plenty of my fellow Mumsnetters are willing to engage, but I'd prefer to keep it hidden.

I had a transvaginal scan at my 20 week scan to check my cervix, this is totally normal...but not normal for it to be done via the bum! I can't see how the sonographer could make this mistake. Even if s/he did, then surely the 'view' would be very different to a TV scan and the mistake would be realised?

Just because she's a Cambridge grad doesn't mean she couldn't be mixed up about what happened.

But never have had a transvaginal scan in any pregnancy. Even that is quite abnormal ime.

Aye, Right...

I've had 3 internal scans up the front end but well before 20 weeks as done to pick up what a normal scan can't. I wouldn't have thought they were done at 20 weeks

Just seen previous comment so they are done to check cervix but not up the bum. Sounds stupid but is she not mistaken. Can't see how a qualified person would get it wrong tbh

It's like that moment in Friends where they try and explain to Joey that that is not how tailor's measure an inseam...

Oh come on, you can tell if something has gone up your bum compared to your vagina. and lljkk a TV scan is not "abnormal" if you have to be scanned before about 10 weeks.

lljkk I've had 3 internal scans in this pregnancy and two in a previous one. All in the first tri though. I've also had about 20 in the course of fertility treatment.

None of them were up the bum tho...

ime = "in my experience", for those who didn't realise.

I thought OP's friend was 20 weeks not 10 weeks gone.

She has just told me she has looked it up and it's called a transperineal scan....

I've been poked and prodded oddly during 2 pregnancies but never once did I confuse or mistake where I was poked. I mean, just try it! You'd know.

All of going off to google now...

It's for prolapses...? And that wasn't discussed in any way?

She said it was a shock to feel it there. I am thinking less now that something dodgy went on and more that the sonographer was a terrible communicator and didn't explain what he was looking for properly....

uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130405140145AAAw4Kb

Transperineal scan is a real thing but it should have been explained to her first!

If it wasn't, she should make a complaint.

I agree with everyone else - there are a few reasons why a sonographer might want to do a vaginal scan, but "up the bum"?

Nope, never heard of that. I would also expect the reasons for needing a vaginal scan to be explained fully. No-one should just be sticking probes in people without explanation!

There are odd mentions of it online my Google history is going to look fantastic now

I had my cervix checked plenty of times in my pregnancies. A few TV scans never up my bum!

I can only think that the sonographer wasn't looking at where the probe was going and stuck it in the wrong hole. Your friend does need to speak to her midwife about this.