Vaginal Scans

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I'm booked in for a vaginal scan next week and am feeling nervous about it, I've never had one before and the circumstances are a bit daunting which is making my nerves worse. I'm hoping they're similar to a smear test, are they just like them in terms of uncomfortability if you've experienced both? Or worse? The nurse on the phone booking me in for the scan said "it'll be a vaginal scan so just prepare yourself for that", which has put the fear in me a bit, like it'll be some horror story to mentally prepare for.

Any advice or experiences welcome!

Less painful than a smear IME.

Assuming it's a trans-vaginal ultrasound, it's nothing like a smear IMO. They don't have to use a speculum to crank open your vagina, and they don't have to poke around in your cervix. It's a smooth plastic wand that they insert, and they move it around a bit.

I wouldn’t class them as painful at all unlike smears which I find very painful. Both of these were post menopause.

Oh amazing! Thank you for your replies they have put my mind at ease, I was really thinking it would be worse than a smear and had visions of it being shoved right up and into my ovaries and all sorts but I think having looked it up online they don't need to do that and can capture ovaries just from below the cervix. Phew!

Now I get why you were freaking out a bit… those mental images sound terrifying I guess the nurse just assumed that since she knows exactly what's involved, you would too But yep, just an ultrasound wand inserted in the vagina, and moved around a bit. I wouldn't exactly go and do it for fun, but not like the horrible images it was conjuring for you. Good luck with the procedure, and I hope the results of the scan are what you need.

Exactly this, it's not too bad at all.

Hello. I had one last year and it was fine. You get changed into a robe and enter a private room. The chair you sit in is slightly reclining and feet on a stool. The nurse inserts a warm speculum/ wand thing which is more comfortable than having a smear. You're sat up and not lying down. She'll be watching a computer screen and the image looks like an ultrasound. She'll ask you to compress your abdomen where your ovaries sit so she can get a better image. It took 10 minutes and she gave verbal feedback there and then. I received a letter in the post a couple of weeks later. Honestly, it was fine. Don't worry. X

I had loads of these during IVF and they’re fine, not painful at all.

I have them more times than I'd like but have never had to get changed into a robe.
I've just worn a dress or long tunic type top with leggings so that when having to take my pants off I wasn't completely exposed from the waist down.

I prefer the internal scan to having to have a full bladder.

Can I just hop on and ask a question.

I have had my second one of those in 5 months (lucky me! Even better, was man this time! Yay me...). Last time, the woman told me straightaway that it was all fine.

This time, the man said' have you ever had an operation on your ovaries?' made me push down on them , and told me results would be back with GP in a few days. So that's different. Just different radiographers doing different things or cause for concern?

Sorry OP for hijack. It's not painful . Bit weird especially when it's a man. But not painful.

Probably had about 40 vaginal scans- they don’t hurt. Bit uncomfortable at worst. I’ve got another one tomorrow (joys of ivf), but I find it quite amusing sat in the waiting room watching the staff thinking “you’ve seen my vagina, and you’ve seen my vagina, and YOU’VE seen my vagina…..hell you’ve all had a look 😆”

Another one, that has had many of these, and find them absolutely fine! I hate smears, always end up in agony as my cervix "likes to hide" and I dread them, but transvaginal scans are a breeze, whenever I've had one, they usually put the sheet back over you too, as once the device is in, they are looking at the screen to see what they need to see, rather than your privates, like in a smear! Good luck op. X

I'd much rather have one of these than a smear. The only thing I will say is I had a man unexpectedly once and I didn't think I'd feel this way but I hated it being a man! He kept getting things wrong and swishing the wand over the wrong place and in the end a female nurse had to come over and do it all so I felt really uncomfortable afterwards and wish I'd requested a female nurse and will do so in future,

I had dozens during fertility treatment. Often know as the dildo cam. Less painful and less undignified than a smear. They glance at your nethers to make sure they are inserting it in the right place but no head torches or speculums are involved.

As pp said much less uncomfortable than a smear.

less self conscious too as they aren’t staring at your vagina either, they’re looking at the screen sat up normally talking to you.

Be aware that they put a condom on the wand too! They're quick, painless and non traumatic generally.

I have had four or five I think, two while pregnant. I find the movement of the want a bit uncomfortable but nothing worse than that, not painful. They don’t take all that long and the person doing it will probably talk you through it . It isn’t as unpleasant as a smear, but it takes slightly longer.
I don’t like them, obviously, I feel vulnerable and undignified, but it isn’t something I worry too much about if I need one as I know that it won’t hurt and is over quickly. Good luck OP.
Wear a skirt or dress, it is easier.

Dildo cam 😁all very reassuring thank you so much, I feel much more relaxed about it now but yes will definitely wear a dress! I've never seen or spoken to a male in the clinic where I'm going to fingers crossed.

@thaneofglamour I've had similar with other tests where sometimes I get told there and then everything's all good and others it's "wait for a letter" but IME the wait for letter times have never been because there's something awful coming in the letter. In fact, the times that there's been something that needs further investigation or if there's maybe something not quite right, those have been when I've been told at the time of the test. I just assume that they're meant to wait for the GP/letter but there's some who are willing to tell you at the time. Hope that's the case for you!

Not sure where you're going for yours but i had one this week and they made a point of not being able to discuss the results - i have to wait for my GP to get the report and discuss it with her.

Had a few. All men!
I need another now, due to pain in abdomen and side.
They don't hurt, just undignified and exposed.

Definitely wear a dress!

Please don’t worry.

I had my first internal scan yesterday (not sexually active and dread things going wrong down below I recall when I had a scan in 2019 they told me everything looked ok straight away as soon as began tummy scan so I refused it then) and I would never have been able to do this in my 20’s or 30’s just couldn’t bear thought of it, only having 2 smears since my late 30’s thats how bad I was but somehow it was easier then a smear.

(I was asked if I’d be ok with latex and they were very concerned with maintaining dignity) and had to do a few moves with stiffing leg as they couldn’t find the ovaries. I’m so proud that my body co operated.

Absolutely loads better than a smear OP. Last one I had the woman didn't even really look 'down there'. Not like them gawping up your fadge while they crank you open.

And then she'll be looking at a screen the whole time and you'll be mainly covered.

Nowhere near as sore or invasive as a smear test 👍

I've had a few; none painful or particularly uncomfortable but the easiest one I had was when the HCP told me to take a deep breath as they inserted the probe and it made a huge difference.

I expect she "warned" you became if your only other experience of a US has be the usual gel on your tummy type, you might be a bit surprised at them waving the "dildo" around. But as all PPs have said, they are truly nothing to worry about.