Trans abdominal vs transvaginal

[Onthegrapevine]

I’m booked in for an ultrasound tomorrow and I’ve just noticed it’s abdominal and not transvaginal.

Not an issue but just looking for reassurance that an abdominal scan would also be able to detect anything suspicious relating to my ovaries.

If they can't get a clear enough view via abdominal they will probably ask permission to perform it tranvsaginally, that's what happened with me.

Exactly correct .. depending on bmi, position of anatomy and bladder position and fullness - a vaginal scan may be necessary for a better assessment

I too would expect it to be TV to view the ovaries. Did they ask you to arrive with a full bladder?

I've had an ovarian cyst picked up with an abdominal scan but it was very large.
Recently I've had a transvaginal scan which I feel may have missed something as I'm still experiencing pain which is currently unexplained.
You may be offered both if they can't see anything abdominally.

An abdominal scan requires a full bladder
A vaginal scan requires an empty bladder

Yes, my letter says to arrive with a full bladder!

I specifically requested it to check my ovaries due to some discomfort in the area & new discharge. My ca125 was normal.

I hope it’s the right one. They were able to assess my ovaries easily abdominally when I was 6 weeks pregnant but I’m not sure abdominal picks up cysts or masses?

They should always start with an abdominal scan then get you to empty your bladder and move to vaginal if necessary
This helps to assess position of anatomy but also get you to relax and have some faith in your scan person .. Sonographer, Dr , nurse or midwife usually

I had one including both abdominal/vaginal last week and was told to arrive with a full bladder. My GP wrote me a referral for a consultant re a fibroid yesterday and I saw the report from the scan clinic which said no abnormal masses were detected, so yes abdominal scan would pick up on those.

My internal ultrasound scans were always done with me having a full bladder.

Be mindful however that if endometriosis is the root cause of your current symptoms an internal scan won’t necessarily detect this as the deposits are so very small.

I was advised to go straight for the TVS ( private hospital) as they can see more. It also means you don't need a full bladder which is a blessing.

Had the scan this morning. Was about to burst by the time they called me in!

They had no issues with abdominal, said all looks normal.

I did also have an abdominal at 6 weeks pregnant a couple years ago and babies heartbeat was clearly visible so I guess I’m lined up in an “easy” way to view!

I have regular scans of my ovary and it is always transvaginal - I'm sure they know what they're doing but it would be worth asking at the scan

Oh sorry, just seen your update!

@Cinni23 No idea. She told me when she was checking each ovary & I even said “not even a cyst!?” and she said “nope!” so I assume (and hope) she had a good view!

Op, my transvaginal ultrasound didn’t pick up my 6kg ovarian cyst but an abdominal one a few days later picked it up immediately.

I can recall saying to the first dr - and how’s my ovaries and they replied, great, but these fibroids need to come out. Two days later I was seen at the local hospital to be given a date for a hysterectomy and a week after that I had major debulking surgery along with the removal of a 6kg Mucinous cyst that turned out to be stage 1A ovarian cancer.

My advice to anyone is - always have both done.

@MaBroon21 Thanks for the reply. I can’t go back and ask for a transvaginal now though. They seemed pretty confident that nothing was there at all, and I haven’t had any of the symptoms listed on the NHS website for ovarian cancer. I am a worrier so I’m trying to just accept that all is ok!