Transvaginal ultrasound, help, I'm autistic and soooo nervous!

[Greysowhat]

I have an ovarian cyst, It's been there since my 20s, I've had around 5 or 6 flare ups over the years that didn't cause much trouble so I never went to the doc about them, I'm 56 now and post menopausal and 10 days ago I had the worst flair up ever. It eased for a couple of days but came back again so I'm having a transvaginal scan tomorrow. I've never had one before and the thoughts of the invasiveness of it is really freaking me out. And that's before I start worrying about what they'll find.

So can anyone please tell me of your experiences of it, what should I expect and how long does it last. When booking I asked the receptionist how long is the actual procedure and she said 30 minutes! I was too shocked to query that. It cant be that long, can it? Surely she meant the whole appointment would be 30 minutes. Also I've to go with a full bladder so I must be having the regular scan first. Also I'm just assuming I'll have the transvaginal one too, I didn't ask, I'm an awful goose when it comes to these things!

Hello, I had one recently for menopausal issues.

The whole thing may have taken 30 mins - being booked in, questionnaire, height weight etc plus waiting but the actual procedure (probe being inside) took about 2 minutes.

It felt quite like a smear test - the ultrasound probe is like a speculum going in. They then move the probe around a little bit to try and see ovaries/take measurements.

I was asked if I was okay several times, especially at the start when they could see I got very tense - they said at any time I could say stop and were very caring/reassuring.

Oh thanks so much Womblingmerrily, 2 minutes sounds ok. Although the worst bit for me with smears is the getting undressed and then the going in bit! After that I'm kind of fine with it all. Thanks again

It's not really as bad as a smear as they slide the probe in ( like putting a tampon or penis in!) They wiggle it about. Mine was probably 10 minutes max. They also turned the lights down in the room.

The first time I had one it was just the person doing it, the second time there was a nurse there too.

I refused to have my legs in stirrups for the second one. The first they didn't have stirrups.

It is very straightforward, doesn't hurt at all and they ensure you keep your dignity.

I have one every other year when I have a smear test. It’s really quick and much better than the actual smear test. I find the sitting and waiting part worse, it’s ok once it gets going as you know it’ll soon be the end!

They asked me if I would prefer to put it in myself. The lights are low I didn't have stirrups. A man did mine but there was a chaperone.

Much much better than smear experience for me, like a tampon going in and gently moved around - I’ve had a few now.

A hundred times better than a smear.

Like PPs have said, it’s like a slightly big tampon. And I’ve also been asked if I’d prefer to insert it myself, and then they just hold the end while looking at the screen. It is a bit uncomfortable when they move it side to side to see those bits, but if I had to choose between an internal ultrasound and a smear test, I’d definitely go for the ultrasound!

I had IVF so have had what feels like a million of these 😆 it's a little strange but I found it miles less uncomfortable than a smear, it's also lubricated so not painful at all.

You have a big paper towel covering you and when they finish the scan they draw the curtains so you can wipe away any lubricant left behind in privacy and put in their waste bin along with the paper from the bed you lay on, in my experience anyway.

To add I have a retorverted uterus so there was mild discomfort when the probe bumped my cervix a few times but not bad at all.

I had one this week and agreed it's much better than a smear. I flagged that during my last smear I'd found the speculum quite painful so she said she'd go slowly but it really felt fine.
If you have any of the silicon vibrators the probe is very similar to those, just not remotely sexy!
The probe was probably in me for 10-15 mins in total and she kept checking I was ok and nothing hurt. At times it was uncomfortable, because she needed to move it around to see different areas, and one of my ovaries was hard to see, but no actual pain.
Let them know you're anxious and if there's anything else that would help - presumably with your autism you'd like very clear instructions or explanations? Everything was explained clearly to me so I would hope and expect it will be for you too.
I was very nervous before hand. The fear of what might be discovered combined with a stranger looking at your fanny is never going to make for a relaxing day! The staff will be used to that though and it was so much better than I was expecting.

If you've a full bladder from an external scan, you'll be asked to go for a wee and empty it.

They'll ask you to remove your clothes on the bottom half and lie on the bed, covering yourself with a large piece of paper roll. They may leave the room or they'll turn their back to you whilst you do it to give you privacy.

If it's a man doing it, they'll have a female chaperone in the room.

When you're ready, they'll put a condom on the small probe, apply the lube to that (not you!), then discreetly insert it into your vagina. It's smaller than you think, and you should feel no discomfort.

It only takes a minute or 2, them they'll remove it and give you privacy to clean up and get dressed again.

Hope the step by step helped. 😊

Thank you for the reassurance but now all I'll be able to think about during the sliding in is penis ! ! ! ! 😂

I had one in my early 20s for a suspected missing coil. Never even had a smear at that point. I needed a full bladder, that was the worst part. I undressed, had a little cover over my lap and they talked me through what they were doing. The room was quiet and dim. I honestly found it quite relaxing! Once the finished I dressed, had a wee, went home. They use a lot of lube and it is nowhere near as uncomfortable as a smear.

I had a lot during IVF cycles. Much easier than a smear in my opinion.

Please tell them you are feeling nervous when you first go in. They will be more gentle and slow with you and try to communicate more and check you're ok.

I had lots because I had pregnancies in a country where they scanned you all the time. It's honestly honestly fine 🙂 feels a bit strange but doesn't hurt, and I very much doubt they will be scanning you for 30 minutes.

Try to breathe deeply and if you face your palms up, it helps your muscles relax for some reason.

It's nowhere near as bad as a smear, you have a sheet over you and they usually turn down the lights and it's much more dignified. You don't need to drink as much as you think you do! I nearly wet myself the first time, I think I ended up doing a big wee before the scan and my bladder was still full enough. I've had loads of them, it's really OK. Can't deal with a smear test at all.

I had one about 6 weeks after giving birth - episiotomy, tear and stitches. Honestly it was very quick, and only caused mild discomfort, even in that state!

Thanks so much, yes very helpful. Glad I can go to the loo after the first one!!

Yes, also quite scared about what they'll find.

Thanks everyone for the great replies. All super helpful, well maybe not the sliding penis !!!! 😅

You can decline the offer of a trans vaginal scan if you want to. Informed consent is needed from you before any examination or procedure. I refused a vaginal probe when I had a scan for cysts - I had a trans abdominal one instead. That scan was enough for a diagnosis.

Oh that's interesting. I'm very tempted t just have the transabdominal one but I've been googling and it says for post menopausal cysts it's best to have the transvaginal one. I might ask them about it tomorrow. But I think I'd be happier with the more thorough scanning. Assuming it is actually necessary.

Am also autistic so understand the need to know exactly what's going to happen. 😉

Yes! Otherwise I might think it's all over and jump up off the table before they've even started!

By the way, shoes/sandals/socks on or off???!!! It's those little things that freak me out

I wouldn't liken it to a penis tbh 😆 thin and metallic as the probe is 😅 so don't worry about that.

I agree that I prefer them to a smear. Another thing that’s also different to a smear is that they’re not right between your legs looking, they discreetly place it in the right location and insert it without looking, if that makes sense? It’s a lot less invasive in the sense of how close someone is to that part of your body. I know this probably doesn’t make sense in the way I’m describing it, but it’s just a lot less ‘exposing’ in that sense. You’re pretty much covered at all times.