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!

Haha! I'm thinking it might pop into my head and it will be a great distraction from what is actually happening 😅

Makes perfect sense, thanks. During the last smear I had the doctor was chatting away and I was chatting back to a head between my legs! Surreal!

@Greysowhatthe 30 minute appointment includes you being given a chance to use the loo and get changed before and after. The actual scan takes very little time (cant’t remember, 5 minutes max). As @Mastercomsays, they are sitting to your side and looking at the screen and the lights aren’t bright for this reason. They do so many every day that they are efficient and well practiced and the process is quick and discreet.

I am the same age as you, OP. I have some physical disabilities and my cervix is in an odd position so let’s just say I used to dread gynae stuff!
But I would much rather have a TV scan than a smear! I went with ovarian cysts. They just had a look at them, said they weren’t of huge concern and I have returned every six months over the last 3 years to check in on them.
I don’t mind in that these people are highly skilled, and it’s always better to know. I can’t stand bright lights so I like that the room is quite dark.
I do take painkillers before I go and after for a couple of days but that’s mostly due to my overall health.
Try not to worry, it is scary when you hear scan but fear not.

When I was feeling nervous before one, I remembered Jilly Cooper's story about her friend who mistakenly used glitter spray instead of VagiFem (or whatever that spray was called, FemFresh?) before a gynae appointment. Anyway, apparently the Dr performing the procedure thanked her for making an effort down there, and the friend didn't realise why until later 💫

I've had one twice and like you, was extremely nervous. Both times I requested a female to carry out the procedure. Both times very easy and straightforward - no pain, not even particularly uncomfortable.

They insert the probe gently and move it around a bit to capture different angles and then withdraw it. Tell the person doing the scan that you're nervous and they may be extra reassuring.

Good luck!

I think she means the whole appointment is 30 minutes. I’ve had one before and it’s not exactly nice but it wasn’t painful and they put lots of gel on the probe thingy so you feel it a bit cold and then moving around a bit so a bit of pressure.

I had one a couple of months ago. It was so relaxing!! They turned the lights down, way less invasive than a smear. Didn’t hurt and wasn’t even uncomfortable.

I’ve had quite a lot of them, during pregnancy and since. They are fine. I don’t like the vulnerability and the idea of it, they are slightly uncomfortable when the wand is moved around, but they really don’t take very long and they don’t hurt as such. They won’t be doing the actual ultrasound for thirty minutes, mine have never taken long, definitely under ten minutes.
You will be ok OP.

Shoes off, socks on 😊

Thank you! 😊

I’m autistic too. I wore a mid thigh tunic and socks as my “undressed” state.
They also gave me a squeezy ball to squeeze during the procedure and didn’t try and talk to me during it. I had asked them to save the talking for after the transvaginal scan was done and I was dressed. They can take screen shots during the scan and then show you what they saw right after when you chat about it.

It's a LOT easier than a smear. Honestly you'll be surprised after how easily it went.

Thank you. I hadn't thought about whether they'd talk me through what they could see as they were scanning. I assumed I'd get a report afterwards. But good tip to ask them to tell me after rather than during.

I had one last week OP and it was fine. Lady was lovely, very reassuring. It was done at my pace and she was very professional and understanding.

I've had them and also agree it's so much more comfortable than a smear.

Something else worth mentioning is that the probe looks pretty big but only the tip really goes in.

I won't look at it! 😮

Agree it’s much easier than a smear. My ovary wasn’t cooperative so they put a foam wedge under my bum and had me move a leg so it was bent, they kept apologising it was taking so long but it wasn’t painful, the room was dark and I wasn’t too bothered!

it feels more detached than a smear as they’re to the side of you

As everyone has said it is easier than a smear. The only thing I will say is I was told it was like a tampon. Well I’ve never seen a tampon that big.

I had IVF so had more of these than I can count. The first was a bit intimidating but more for fear of the unknown than anything else. It is definitely less unpleasant than a smear test but takes a bit longer. You can however see what is going on inside on the screen which I found quite fun!

Good luck.

I’ve had a few of these for pregnancy stuff and it is like a skinny dildo - even covered in a condom and lube haha. It isn’t uncomfortable going in but can be if they have to move it to the side to investigate something. The times I have had it I have had paper towel over my legs and they sit to the side of the bed and just insert it with one hand and barely even glance at your bits to check they’re inserting in the right place - it’s not like full frontal or anything - just quick and discreet and they’re looking at the screen basically the whole time. Much nicer than a smear!

Honestly OP it’s not bad at all. The ultrasound itself takes last than 5 minutes. It’s much less uncomfortable than a smear. They’ll give you empty your bladder before the transvaginal scan then have you lie on a couch with your bottom at the edge and your feet in stirrups and then they just do it quickly and discreetly. You’ll likely feel them moving the probe around inside a little bit but it’s not painful. I’ve had at least one a year for the last 10 years so I’m experienced at it now.

I’ve had a few and I’ve never found them painful or really anything other than odd. My first one was for a suspected cyst and it took maybe 10 minutes? The others have been for early pregnancy and those take a bit longer, but none of them hurt. It’s strange to have them put it inside you (some ultrasound techs will let you insert it yourself but tbh I find that weirder for me) but once you get past that it’s pretty easy - and I say that as someone with a very sensitive cervix!

It’s nowhere near as uncomfortable as a speculum, especially a metal speculum - I’ve had metal and plastic speculums, but the ultrasound probe has always been plastic covered with a condom.

Had one two days ago - complete non-event and didn't even take my trainers off. I've had worse pedicures...

Hi. I had one two weeks ago. I’ve had a couple in my life. I’m 52. It was absolutely fine. There was the consultant doing the scan and a lovely nurse next to me and we were chatting about other things I totally forgot someone was scanning me internally. Turns out I have a small cyst and then had to have an mri to find the other ovary as it was hiding behind my ‘gassy bowel’ 🤣 Honestly it was no problem. That was on a Monday and in the same week on the Friday I had a colonoscopy and that wasn’t too bad either 🤣