Ultrasound for fibroids

[BeBesideTheSea]

I am wondering if it is usual to have a transvaginal scan to check for fibroids? I am glad my GP is taking my horrific monthly bleeding seriously, but really don’t want a transvaginal scan.

I had one when I was pregnant (placenta previa) and still feel violated 13 years later!

Would a normal ultrasound not work? If I say at the appointment I don’t want one will they do a normal one?

It’s normal, certainly was anyway when I had an ultrasound for fibroids - however the lady was lovely, asked permission and talked through what she was doing the whole time
As I then got a hysterectomy it’s a good procedure in my head as it led to me feeling so much better.

I have very large fibroids, bed bleeding etc... so my GP scheduled me an appointment for ultrasound, abdominal and transvaginal. It seems to be the NHS protocol for fibroids. The lady tech told me transvaginal scan is necessary to see the fibroids/uterus from behind and under, the different angles to make a proper assessment. They lie you on a table and stick a probe with a tiny camera inside you. The whole thing was very very easy, completely painless, nurses were lovely and took 2 minutes. You have absolutely nothing to worry OP.

It’s totally normal, I was told it was to get an accurate sizing of the fibroids and is clearer. It’s not pleasant but nothing to worry about. It was worth it to get all the heavy bleeding sorted.

Of course you can refuse the internal scan - you are offered one - you just say no. It's not compulsory. I had fibroids and I refused a transvaginal scan - far too triggering and violating for me. I insisted on a female technician and I would only allow an abdominal scan. No issues - the fibroids were found and the technician accepted my choices.

Thank you so much all of your for your comments.

@Sandra1984 that sounds fine. The one I had before was absolutely not a small probe and not painless either.

I think I will say I am not sure about it, and see what assessment they can make with an abdominal one first. Then ask why they need to do the transvaginal one.

Thanks again

I recently had a transvaginal scan to check bleeding. I had guessed a TVS would be the case but it wasn't mentioned at the booking in phone call, just to drink two pints of water which I knew was for an external scan so I went anticipating both.

For some unknown reason I expected a female sonographer so I was a bit thrown to see a young male sonographer when I walked into the room with a female assistant.

He did the abdominal scan first and said that he saw nothing of concern. He then asked if I had been expecting an internal scan and I said well I thought you'd see a lot more detail with TVS so yes I was. He said that was definitely the case and he could do one if I wanted. There was an ensuite loo off the room and I had to empty my bladder. I changed into a gown and they put a wedge under me on the examination table. He was very professional and kind and put me at ease. He showed me the ultrasound wand which had a covering and lube on it and he didn't even have to look in order to insert it - they just put it against the top of the vulva and then move it down and in. You have a drape over you so the operator doesn't see anything. It's a very slim wand and I said to him that it was comfortable. He was able to show me some detail on the screen that was not clear on the trans abdominal scan.

OP if you don't feel comfortable with a TVS then you may decline it. I don't know why I reacted the way I did to seeing the male sonographer but I'm glad I went ahead because he was able to see more detail and it did explain aspects of my gynae history. Scans are always anxiety causing and you always feel like you've been put through the wringer. There's a real lonely feeling standing in a hospital room under florescent lighting putting a hospital gown on - I had mine on backwards 😁 but they didn't mind. Take care of yourself.

Ultrasound technology is improving all the time so the internal transducer wand thingy may have become smaller since you last had an internal.

Can I politely ask if you are slim?

It's much harder to get good pelvic abdominal, versus TV ultrasounds on bigger people.

I've had a lot of TVs. The last, at a specialist clinic (PMB), the probe was up me for a good 20-25 minutes. And biopsies. I was grateful for the thoroughness, but everyone's different.

I was very grateful to have one. They measured my fibroids and spotted one that was looking suspicious and removed it before it could do me any harm.

I wasn't as long Fordian because it was just an ultrasound appt - had I been at the PMB clinic then it might have been a biopsy too and longer scan. I'd say it was 8-9 mins for the internal - DH said I was gone for 25 minutes.