Transvaginal scan or c section

[Mammy20]

Hello everyone,

I have been wondering if anyone here have been sent for a transvaginal scan or had a transvaginal scan done and how did they feel about having it. I have been sent for a untrasound due to possible low placenta positioning. Once I got there I was told it is going to be not a regular ultrasound but an internal transvaginal scan (that was to be performed by a male ). I refused it, so they told me the other option is c section, so I could choose which one I want. I refused both, and I was made to feel as if there was no other option. I insisted that didn’t want either. But then suddenly they offered me third option MRI, which would have been fine with me in the first place. MRI reviled that I no longer have low placenta, so there was no need for c section.
But is it just me feeling that transvaginal scan would mentally traumatise you (especially if performed by a male) or does anyone else have had similar experience.
I have spoken to my midwife and she told me that most women don’t have a problem at all to have transvaginal scan, but I feel that if I was to go with it , I would feel extremely violated.
What’s everybody’s thoughts on this?

It is reasonable and established to have the right i n uk to ask for a scan to be performed by a woman or have a chaperonefemale in a non emergency situation, there are all sorts of reasons you may find a man and a transvaginal scan traumatic.
If you've never had one before the idea can be more scary than the reality.

Ask to speak to a consultant to clearly explain the pros and cons of different approaches and to be specific about the evidence.

Frequently medical staff can have poor communication skills which turn small worries into big issues.
May be worth looking at evidenced based birth website.

Funnily enough I was having this conversation with DH last night, as I had my 22 week scan yday and they ended up needing to do a transvaginal scan. DH found it odd that this happened with him and another guy in the room and I just shrugged my shoulders.

Many years ago, the thought of any intimate exam by a man was just a no, and I would always request a female. I then had serious health problems that regularly required cameras up my bum and I lost all sense of sensitivity or being uncomfortable when a male does an exam...I got used to pulling down my bottoms and exposing my bum to everyone in the room!!

But that was after years of colonoscopies and other examinations, so I see anything like that strictly procedural now and don't even question it when it's a man examining me.

Ignore what everyone else says...do what feels comfortable for you. If you request a female, they are meant to respect that and provide you with one. Even if you want only females during your birth, tell them that.

You’re in for a rough ride during labour if you think the transvaginal scan is a violation

By the time my daughter was finally brought safely into the world by emergency c section, after 34 hours in labour, I couldn’t have given a shiny shit who saw my bits. I would have let them amputate my leg if it meant my girl was okay. I even joked at the time, in theatre ‘well at least I probably won’t be nervous for smear tests from now on!’

Just sharing this to clarify points about requesting female doctors: www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/faqs/your-appointment/#q3

I say this because it MAY be possible for them to provide a female doctor or HCP for a routine examination or procedure but you may be in an emergency situation in labour where only a man is available and in those cases they do not have to provide you with a female HCP. It is therefore worth preparing yourself for the possibility that a man may end up doing what feels like very invasive procedures at some point. Yes you do retain the right the refuse but most people don’t in the case of an emergency where their baby may be at risk.

I don’t think that is a very nice thing to say, Brunt0n.

Not very useful to the OP, and not true for everyone in labour, I’d imagine there are as many birth experiences as there are people in the world, they and we are all different.

It is perfectly OK to be worried about a scan, and attitudes like yours undermine women. I care about who sees or touches me, it doesn’t matter how much pain I’m in, in fact when I’m in pain I care even more. We aren’t all the same.

It might not be possible for the OP to refuse certain things / certain doctors though, that’s the point. Ultimately the health and safety of her and her baby are what matters most no? Was my labour what I would have chosen? No. But we both made it out in one piece, and that’s what matters in the end. OP might need to think and prepare herself for that idea.

I’ve had an emergency c -section and if your choice is to have an internal scan instead of it I’d take that first and hope to avoid a c- section although an elective one probably wouldn’t be as bad at least according to my many friends experiences . I have always had female gynos privately but during my pregnancy ,labour and later with multiple rounds of ivf and miscarriages I’ve had many male doctors and a few male sonographers too. I’ve had so many internal scans done by both sexes i’ve lost count long time ago . You do get more used to it in my I think and they are often quite quick . I found my MRI’s much worse experience because I get claustrophobic in it . You can always ask for a female to do it . That is my preference generally . I do understand the thought of it being scary if you have had previous traumatic experiences in that area though . I can empathise

I’ve had a transvaginal scan by a male I was asked if I wanted a chaperone. It was fine but it’s your personal choice and what you feel comfortable about. Just incase you don’t know (I didn’t until it happened) but before you are prepped for a csection you have no pants on and a catheter is put in. I felt more exposed having that done in a room of people than having a transvaginal scan.

In all honesty it doesn’t bode well, as you will need to give birth at some point. I have had loads of these types of scans and l don’t see what the problem is? No offence but l doubt the male member of staff was that interested as it’s just another day at work for him

But is it just me feeling that transvaginal scan would mentally traumatise you (especially if performed by a male) or does anyone else have had similar experience

Meh... I’ve had loads, often performed by men. You have a sheet over you and the technician doesn’t even look. They are too busy looking at the screen. It doesn’t hurt and it’s all over in a few minutes. The only traumatic thing about them for me was the miscarriages they confirmed. Having an internal scan was probably one of the least invasive things that has happened to me in my pregnancy.

Is this your first baby? I don't want to scare you op, but I couldn't even tell you how many sets of male and female hands I had to deal with "up me" during my first labour (which ended in emergency c section). By all means refuse interventions you don't deem necessary, but you might have to let go of a bit of dignity during labour for the safety of yourself and baby. No one likes having a stranger poke and prod you internally, but an internal ultrasound is really not that invasive. Did they explain the procedure? Show you the device used? It's really not that big a deal. Think I had 4 or 5 over both my pregnancies, wouldn't have crossed my mind to refuse as everytime it was for an important reason.

I've had several in my life - once in pregnancy, the rest for test and checks. Didn't bother me in the slightest. Actually felt less anxious than a smear tbh. Had a male perform it twice I think - it was very routine and it didn't feel weird.

I also would have asked for a female sonographer for a TV scan and have had a few of them no problem.

That sounds like a horrible disempowering experience with an extreme response from them.

It's for the safety of you and your child so I'm confused as to why you'd feel violated? You need to try and get some help before you have the baby as having a straight forward vaginal birth can be invasive too... most women don't care as they want baby safe but you may struggle? Also prepare for any situation you may have to have any other procedures during the labour such a episiotomy or c section? Good luck

I had two TV scans some years ago during an early miscarriage, both by a male. Very honestly they were far less uncomfortable (both physically and mentally) than any smear test I've ever had.

Sure it’s a bit awkward having a transvaginal ultrasound but it’s hardly the only time someone is going to be poking about down there while you are pregnant/ giving birth.
It is a medical procedure carried out by a trained professional who is just trying to make sure you and baby are healthy.
I have had 2 so far during pregnancy and 2 for pcos issues prior. I think 3 out of 4 were preformed by males.

Unless you had extreme mental health issues already stemming from traumatic sexual abuse then I don’t see why a TV ultrasound would be traumatising for the average woman.

OP you don't mention previous trauma that would cause you to find a trans-vaginal scan traumatising, perhaps that is the case for you. If you are uncomfortable with it for whatever reason then you shouldn't have to have one. However not all women are traumatised by it. And I'm with others who are concerned about how you will cope with labour and delivery when any number of people may need to get up close there.

I do have past trauma that colours my perspective, and I accept that. However it is absolutely NOT the case that you must accept a multitude of hands ‘up you’ in labour or at any other time. I can’t imagine ever not caring who sees or touches me in any situation, and scaring pregnant women who may have past trauma by saying they must accept multiple invasions of privacy and lose all their dignity is a shit thing to do. You can have as much dignity as you want. Women are already worried about labour.

A chorus of you won’t care, millions of people stick their hands in you, leave your dignity at the door....is crap. Women often DO care very much. Informed consent is ALWAYS necessary. And dignity and privacy are of paramount importance.

I don’t think people should be frightening a possibly vulnerable OP with tales of people inevitably doing pelvic exams or stitches etc during birth.

I have considerable difficulty in having any such exams due to childhood sexual abuse — I’ve tried therapy on a number of occasions, EMDR, hypnotherapy, but to no avail, and have to be sedated for smears — but I had a pregnancy and (medically necessary) CS without anyone needing to do pelvic exams, apart from when I had a catheter inserted under epidural. If the OP is upfront with her midwives/consultant, there are workarounds.

And yes, agree @ChanklyBore.I never felt my dignity was in any way compromised in pregnancy or childbirth, and I absolutely cared who touched or saw me. It’s ridiculous to suggest all women ‘leave their dignity at the door’ — it’s not my experience, and I wouldn’t have been ok with anyone assuming that’s what I felt. And my NHS midwife, consultant, the surgeon and theatre staff etc were scrupulously kind, careful and professional.

@ChanklyBore

I do have past trauma that colours my perspective, and I accept that. However it is absolutely NOT the case that you must accept a multitude of hands ‘up you’ in labour or at any other time. I can’t imagine ever not caring who sees or touches me in any situation, and scaring pregnant women who may have past trauma by saying they must accept multiple invasions of privacy and lose all their dignity is a shit thing to do. You can have as much dignity as you want. Women are already worried about labour.

A chorus of you won’t care, millions of people stick their hands in you, leave your dignity at the door....is crap. Women often DO care very much. Informed consent is ALWAYS necessary. And dignity and privacy are of paramount importance.

All of this!

I don't mean to be cruel but are you aware of how many different sets of hands you may have in that area during labour?

This.

Have you considered what you may beed if your labour and birth isn’t straightforward? Is a manual examination, forceps, ventouse, anyone touching you at all also going to be triggering?

As pp said you absolutely have the right to refuse any examination or intervention.

But what if the decision is either have the intervention or lose your baby?

If you feel so strongly about a TV scan, it may be worth considering a section, or at least discussing what you can and can’t accept with your team.

You can try for a vaginal birth, and switch to a section if intervention is necessary, but be aware sometimes you have no choice- if you are past a certain point a c-section may not be an option.

Also consider if you do have a section that doesn’t necessarily mean there’ll be no contact with your genital area. Pain relief is often given by suppository, people will check, apply pads for bleeding, you will be catheterised etc.

Please get some counselling or help so you know what to expect. It a TV scan is such an issue, it would be better to have expectation managed before any decisions have to be made during birt.

Were you offered a chaperone? For various reasons I had those scans but normally by a women.

Earlier this year I had my first by a male doctor and I was a bit uncomfortable about it. When we got to the room a nurse came in and said she would help me and he left the room. Her help was to show me where I could change and pass a sheet to help with my modesty.

She made me feel very much as ease and he came in and performed the scan. They barely look at you bar putting the probe in the right place.

It's interesting they didn't do the normal scan first? I had a low lying placenta and at my next check scan she could see it had moved.

If you give birth naturally there could be all sorts of people having a good look up there.

It's far less uncomfortable than a sweep.

I recently had one done and was a bit apprehensive when I realised it'd be a male. Turned out to be a student being assessed by 2 women. Plus DH that was quite an audience. It was done very professionally though and frankly as it was baby 2 for me I think I've lost so of my inhabitans.

I think an MRI will have cost the NHS a lot more and it's not really justifiable (sorry if that sounds harsh) as it's not medically required. If you'd had a bad experience or were an assault victim that'd be different.

After baby 1 a male consultant diagnosed a prolapse for me. I was just relieved to know I wasn't being daft and it could be treated.

Hugs if you're struggling but I'd be interested to know if you're so bothered after the birth.

You’re perfectly entitled to refuse a male performing a procedure but surely you see that your response and language is completely hysterical.