Early Transvaginal Scan

[MrsMcNtobe]

Hi, has anyone had an early transvaginal scan? I would like to get one around 7 weeks for my own piece of mind but I’ve also read someone say that they believe these to be a risk and dangerous to baby so it’s put some double in my mind... hope someone can help!

Hi, I’ve had lots of them! They pose no risk and are completely safe. I had them at 4+2, 5+3, 6+3 and 7+3. I am now 8+5, my scan this week was trans abdominal but baby is doing perfect.
Just make sure you are with reputable clinic

Had many of these with my IVF pregnancies, particularly when I had Ohss. I was scanned a couple of times a week from 5+6 up to 10 weeks and my twins were totally fine - I think the last few after about 8/9 weeks were external. They also used dopplers to listen to HBs which apparently they now don't do anymore. Had a few transvaginal scans before 10 weeks with this singleton pregnancy too and all was fine at my (13 week) dating scan earlier this week. It won't do any harm 😊

They're pretty routinely used, including by NHS, and personally I wouldn't worry about any risk to your baby. There are a couple of websites that will tell you there could be a risk but they are a minority and there is no firm evidence that I could see. There is even some research that showed a weekly scan for women who'd had recurrent loss improved outcomes.

If you want to get a scan I'd say it will be unpleasant for you but fine for your baby (although I'm not a medical expert!). Do be aware that if your dates are out you can end up worrying unnecessarily if they can't find a heartbeat (over 7 weeks is usually OK but if you might be less you could wait another week) and that private providers don't always have the best processes in place if there is a problem (although many are fine). They also have lots of baby photos etc on the walls which is lovely if everything is fine but a bit crap if it's not. I wouldn't let that put you off - most PG are fine - just be aware that it isn't like a hospital environment. You may see this as a good thing!

I've never heard of their being a risk with transvaginal scans.
I had two not long before pregnancy due to pcos and 2 during early pregnancy.

The thought it a bit like going for a smear but it isn't sore or overly uncomfortable.

I had an early private scan at 6+6 and they did it as an abdominal, and said they would do vaginal if they needed to after (they didn't). If you're concerned, you could ask if they could try abdominal first? As the other ladies have mentioned, I've not heard of vaginal causing an risks either though.
Here's a pic of my 6+6 abdominal. We could see our little peanuts heart flickering away, and the little body (although doesn't look much like a baby body at nearly 7 weeks 😊)

I’ve had many due to a missed miscarriage previously. There is no risk any more than abdominal, it’s conspiracy nuts. I’d highly recommend you go for internal until over 9 weeks, the images are so so so much clearer than abdominal even at 7 weeks you see a super clear heartbeat and the shape of the embryo much more clearly. I had an abdominal one at 9 weeks and it was crap compared to my internal one at 7 weeks.

Thank you so so much everyone!

@22ELF22 omg how perfect 😍! I am only 4 weeks at the moment but it’s taken us 2 and a half years to even make it this far as we’ve struggled to conceive, I’m trying to enjoy and what will be will be but I could also do with a bit of reassurance. I might wait til 7ish weeks and hopefully all going well can get a scan booked!

I had mine at 5 weeks, only saw the sac. Then at 7 weeks saw the heartbeat! Good luck xx

Wait until you’re at least 7 weeks, any earlier and it can cause more worry than good! Congratulations xx

There is a slight risk of cervical irritation (like the risk you'd get from having anything in your vagina during pregnancy). But stop reading unsubstantiated rubbish, as it will just fuel your anxiety. Stick to nhs and bmj type info!! There is no risk to baby.

I had 1 @6+5 &8 weeks. No issue. They prefer it 1 week apart.