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?

I've had a few, they're fairly standard.

Do you cope OK with your smear test, OP? It's way less invasive than that.

Anyway, you're within your rights to refuse and I'm glad everything worked out. Good luck with your pregnancy.

OP you are 100% allowed to say no to internal scans or anyone inserting anything into your vagina. They need your consent before performing anything like this and you do not have to give it. You also don’t have to give a reason either.

Also to everyone talking about labour. Every vaginal examination in labour is optional

Aims explain this well, found here - www.aims.org.uk/information/item/vaginal-examinations-in-labour

Equally to those talking about forceps etc. You also need to consent to those, they are optional. There may be circumstances where it’s an emergency and they are recommended bit even in these instances you have body autonomy they cannot force you to do anything.

Equally to those talking about forceps etc. You also need to consent to those, they are optional. There may be circumstances where it’s an emergency and they are recommended bit even in these instances you have body autonomy they cannot force you to do anything

Agreed.

But there are circumstances where intervention may be necessary to save the life of the baby and/or mother. At a stage where c-section is not an option (and even c-section you’d need to consent to catheterisation, the baby may need pushing back up from the vagina etc)

What then?

If this is such an issue it may be wise for o/p to consider her options. Unless she has a completely straightforward unassisted birth there is a strong chance someone will have to examine or assist- stitches, catheter, pads, pain relief, actually delivering the baby, placenta delivery etc.

Best to think now about what will be the most acceptable choices now, than get to delivery and start refusing intervention and end up with a bad outcome...

I’m with you op.
I’ve politely refused transvaginal scans twice. I just found the whole idea wrong.
I did have a male midwife at one of my births and it wasn’t an issue.
Male midwives are a different thing altogether than a dildo shaped, condom covered probe being poked up your vagina.
He didn’t do internals unless I requested and I found he listened to me and my needs much more than the female I had before he came on shift, who seemed to take great pleasure in telling me I wouldn’t get an epidural anytime soon.

Sorry but no one is saying that she doesn't have the right to say no or that any sort of procedure would be carried without her either verbal or written consent. ( no medical practitioner would carry out anything without getting either off the patient anyways) I think what people are tryin to say is or suggest that OP needs to talk with her midwife and doctors and discuss this further. As it's a very real possibility that internal exams at the very minimum could be medically needed as she needs to talk with them about what could happen and how they can best help her.

@RubyReigns by that logic smear tests are also “wrong”.
Referring to the ultrasound equipment as a dildo is the sort of comment you would expect from a 14 year old boy.
There is nothing wrong or sexual about a medical diagnostic procedure. There are a number of reasons a transvaginal ultrasound is necessary over an abdominal one.

I've had a transvaginal scan and it was less uncomfortable than a smear test. I gave had vaginal exams and gynacological procedures done by male doctors and I didn't mind; there was always a female nurse present too.

[quote luxxlisbon]@RubyReigns by that logic smear tests are also “wrong”.
Referring to the ultrasound equipment as a dildo is the sort of comment you would expect from a 14 year old boy.
There is nothing wrong or sexual about a medical diagnostic procedure. There are a number of reasons a transvaginal ultrasound is necessary over an abdominal one.[/quote]
This.

You all must have shit dildos if you think that looks anything like one.

It's your right to turn down a medical procedure or only consent to a woman doing it.

I've had dozens of TV scans (fertility treatment and miscarriage). They are weird but I can't say they bothered me particularly. Preferable in some ways to wiping the gel stuff off me! An MRI must have been hugely more expensive for the hospital to do (as much of my care was private I'm still traumatised by seeing everything broken down on the itemised bills😳).

[quote luxxlisbon]@RubyReigns by that logic smear tests are also “wrong”.
Referring to the ultrasound equipment as a dildo is the sort of comment you would expect from a 14 year old boy.
There is nothing wrong or sexual about a medical diagnostic procedure. There are a number of reasons a transvaginal ultrasound is necessary over an abdominal one.[/quote]
Ok bad choice of word with dildo but it still seemed wrong to me.
Everyone is entitled to feel how they feel.
I get my smear every time it’s due I just took offence to the internal scan.

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

Dmtush, perhaps you should look into the history of that word.

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.

Surely they discussed well before the procedure whether you were happy to allow a male student to perform the sweep? A sweep itself obviously requires explicit consent from the woman, but having it performed by a student and with others watching would require additional consent. I remember having to give consent to simply have a student present in the room during an antenatal appointment with my midwife.

@Brunt0n

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.

You can ALWAYS refuse anything you wish. This is not Gilead! You need to understand the consequences of refusal, but you have complete autonomy.

Despite the many woman on here seemingly happy with fingers and hands up there during labour and birth, you can completely refuse that. You must be aware of the consequences, but before anyone touches you, they should explain what they’d like to do, and get permission.

Well done on standing up for yourself when they tried to bully you into one or the other option. I, unlike a lot of PP can comprehend how off-balance it would make you to expect a regular ultrasound and instead have a man shoving something up there, irrelevant of any backstory whatsoever.

Be strong, educate yourself as much as you can, and all the best.

I just think it’s wrong that everyone is basically saying to the OP “I’ve had them and I didn’t mind so I don’t see why you should”

PP are right that OP should talk through their birth preferences with their midwife to discuss what they would prefer to happen on different scenarios should an emergency occur during labour.

But equally we need to move on from the ideas that that it doesn’t matter what happens to a woman so long as a healthy baby is delivered.

I’ve been reading give birth like a feminist and it is very good at explaining how the autonomy of women during pregnancy and labour has been eroded.

@AnotherDelphinium well said

I had a transvaginal scan early on in my pregnancy and the experience was awful. Not the actual scan or pain but the treatment by the (male) HCP and what happened before and after.

If your gut feeling is that you're not comfortable with it, stick by it. Also try and mentally prepare for what you might have to go through during labour.

It's less discomfort than a smear. It was a choice between that or a possible preterm birth.

I am due a placenta scan in 2 weeks (36 weeks)

I would hope they have read my notes and made it female only for me.

I was badly sexually abused as a child and due to the trauma still I am having a caesarean. The thought of having to give birth vaginally causes me deep distress and I'd rather be mentally well for when my baby is born than upset and traumatized for weeks after it. Obv if I have to have a vaginal scan then I will for my wee baby but it would have to be a women.

I know logically they are all there in a professional context and for the good of me and my baby but deep down I just panic.

So I see where you are coming from albeit a different road.

@PinkPlantCase she asked for peoples thoughts and experiences and that is what she is getting
Ur feminist views are your own and right to have but equally people also have a right to what they think and feel and are not wrong if they are happy to have medical intervention without making a big deal out of it and personally after having a Prem and very ill baby I will take anything offered if it was for my or baby safety

I have had a few, all performed by women bar one, and personally I did find the one performed by a male doctor upsetting. I didn’t expect to, but my body did a weird freak out on me and my arms and legs were literally shaking throughout. I’m sure the poor man though I was crazy. So I understand the overreaction. It doesn’t always come from a rational place. Doesn’t make it any less heartfelt.

I know the history of the word hysterical, it’s a suitable fit here.

The cost of an MRI to the NHS is eye watering when compared with a trans vaginal scan. Based on the information presented her response and language is OTT.

And I’ve had many years of gynae procedures including trans vaginal scans, some by men, some by woman. I completely understand the OPs feelings, I wasn’t keen on having a growth removed from my cervix while fully conscious and unsedated by a man.

@Dmtush

Please be sensitive. You know the definition it seems, not the etymology or context within women's health at all.

@Dmtush

I know the history of the word hysterical, it’s a suitable fit here.

The cost of an MRI to the NHS is eye watering when compared with a trans vaginal scan. Based on the information presented her response and language is OTT.

Do you know the definition of 'empathy' as well? Try it one day. Jesus.