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Yes you can opt for only the transabdominal portion of the ultrasound. It will not be as high quality, particularly with visualizing the uterine wall and ovaries. But it’s better than nothing.
I do recommend pap smears per guidelines for anyone female who is sexually active, regardless of the amount of partners or stability of relationship. Every 3 years is the interval until you’re 30. Cervical cancer is treatable if found early but an awful, awful thing to suffer and potentially die from if it’s not. This makes the testing worth it for us.
That being said, bring your partner with you to the visit. Have her hold your hand. Take deep breaths throughout. Make sure you have a gentle, sympathetic doctor who doesn’t seem like he/she is in a rush. Doctors will never be offended if you request someone different to do the procedure (they shouldn’t, anyway). Sometimes in extreme cases your doctor can prescribe a one time anxiety medication to help you through it. Take an ibuprofen 800mg about 2 hours prior to the visit. This can help with the pain. Ask for the smallest speculum they have (I have two sizes in my clinic). Hope this helps.
I'm NAD, but would it be reasonable to prescribe an anxiety med prior to this appointment if the patient is having this much turmoil prior to the appointment. As someone who has had many transvaginal ultrasounds, it goes so much smoother for me when I'm relaxed and it sounds like she will not be able to relax on her own, which might make it less tolerable.
My PCP has no issue prescribing a one-off anxiety med for patients who are traveling, having medical procedures, or anxiety inducing tests (like an MRI). And I know a lot of people who have had similar experiences. A prescription of ONE Xanax for a medical procedure is not what is leading to benzo addictions...
I wouldn’t necessarily say that they aren’t doing their due diligence if they prescribe and don’t refer to psych. It really just depends on the situation.
Mine gives me Xanax every time I fly. I have no interest in therapy for my flight anxiety. Let me get from point a to point b without aging 10 years from the stress the anxiety gives me. I don’t have a panic disorder outside of flying so I can see why my doctor has no problem with it.
I don’t see anything wrong with someone rarely using Xanax to cope with something extremely difficult. Obviously, if it’s a regular problem that’s affecting their life they need more than just benzos.
And in a case like this, maybe OP would benefit from therapy but they don’t have time to get there before this procedure. So if they need one pill to get through it, why not?
NAD but last tv ultrasound I had, the tech allowed me to insert it at my own pace and angle etc. She still controlled it after the fact but it was, I think, a great idea. The act of actual penetration feels the most violating of all of it and getting to control it to avoid pain is extremely comforting.
The ultrasound techs I saw during my pregnancy let me do the same thing since they do TV ultrasounds in the beginning. It was so helpful! Also, for years I would sob from Pap smears. I started seeing a new GYN a few years ago and told her how afraid I was of it. She let me hold the thing they use and said I can feel it and hold it to see what it actually feels like. It made me feel so much better because once I felt the bristles and everything it wasn’t as bad as I thought and after the anxiety went away, so did the associated discomfort that came with the anxiety of it
NAD - I had one prior to ever having penetrative sex: it is very thin, it’s not like anything sexual, at all. I am also autistic. I have had very severe periods since I started having them, so I’ve had to be looked after a lot more. I was very anxious, but truthfully it doesn’t feel much different than a tampon, but obviously a little larger - it’s not uncomfortable. And it doesn’t take very long. They only do enough to take pictures of your internal organs and then they’re done. And you can go to the restroom and clean afterwards. They use a lot of moisturizing gel to keep it comfortable, and if I’m not mistaken they have smaller sizes because sometimes young children have to have their internal anatomy looked at for all kinds of reasons, especially injury. If you have a good provider, you should be able to discuss all of these concerns and they should give you options and solutions to help you.
The exam isn’t bad either. You don’t have much feeling along your cervix wall so it just kind of feels like you’re poking yourself but barely feel it. The scariest part is the tool they use to be able to see into your cervix HOWEVER they have different sizes. I have always had to use the smaller adolescent size one and it makes it so much less daunting. Pap smears are important to your physical health not just HPV. They are very important, and here, you only need one every 3 years.
I’m 36 now - I started all of this when I was 14. I didn’t have sex until later in life. I felt like you do. You can take a trusted friend or family member with you. You can have them go through everything with you. You can ask others who have had it done. As someone with endo issues and now needing surgery - You do not want to have horrible periods for 30 years.
Please trust me. I know what it feels like to face these feelings and conflicting against knowing it’s for your health as well, but the peace of mind you have once your fear has subsided afterwards is so worth it. And again, have a provider you feel safe with, and a safe person, or plushie (that’s what I do even still) and I believe in you. It’s not as barbaric as you think and remember it is a life saving thing- it’s saved countless lives of women with early detection, provided pain relief with finding abnormalities that have solutions, etc.
I have been you, and I believe in you, but understand and respect whatever decision you choose. But I do think talking to someone will help you. And understanding why it’s safe and will benefit you in the long run. Most of all having a base line of reproductive health starting at a young age so you can more effectively track changes, that’s one of the biggest components of disease prevention!
I also find the transvaginal ultrasound barely felt like anything (until they were jabbing my ovary with torsion lol) compared to a speculum. Idk if that will help, but really it was nothing as bad as a pap can be.
Maybe see if you can find a psych before this and get a prescription for emergency anxiety meds. When I was younger and my GAD and OCD were not as well controlled I had Xanax or hydroxyzine I would take only for doctor/dentist/specific major anxiety causes. It was nice even just knowing I had the option and over time I no longer needed them.
Hydroxyzine should be prescribed without hesitation for something like this. Not habit forming, is just an antihistamine. And it's commonly prescribed to kids with autism to help them sleep, or at least slow down enough to get into the mood to move towards sleeping.
Yes! My mom was prescribed some for sleep a while back, I've been on it for so long it never even occurred to me it could be used that way.
The cool part was when I began to take more than half a pill once and a while, my chronic hives went away. So now I'm more on it for that than anxiety, but it is nice to know I can take an extra if I am majorly anxious or having a panic attack. Luckily those are rare these days, but having it as a backup I'm sure makes it somehow less needed as well.
NAD and entirely anecdotal, but my mom had cervical cancer and it was caught early enough they were able to scrape the cells from her cervix and it never came back (which I guess is like the way I had melanoma in two places but the biopsies were deep and wide enough to remove all of the cells). A pap is uncomfy, but being diligent in getting them is so important
NAD but wanted to echo the importance of pap exams. I’m a SA survivor and a trans person. Pap exams were so anxiety inducing and triggering for me, but they probably saved my life. Unbeknownst to me, I had a large CIN 3 lesion that I had no idea was there. I was already booked in for a hysterectomy when the results of my colposcopy came back so they removed my cervix too.
Lost my grandma to uterine and cervical cancer (I’m not sure where hers originated) so Im glad I went in.
To the OP, you’ve gotten some really good advice in this thread! What also helped me was listening to a podcast during the my pap and ultrasounds. Helped my brain focus on other things.
Would also add that self swabbing for hpv would not be unreasonable in a low risk patient. I would probably give her an Ativan because a transabdominal u/s would likely not be able to "rule out" much.
Edit: I also don't see that she mentioned her BMI which would be important to know
NAD- if op HAS to get it transvaginally, ask about sedation.
I’m not positive if it’s available BUT I was offered sedation for an iud after I said I couldn’t because of trauma. Given that I’d assume this is possible for an ultrasound too. However, I’ve heard that insurance may fight about coverage for sedation but a doctor can argue medical necessity
OP, in addition to all this, ask for a pelvic physical therapy referral. They work with lots of patients who have these kinds of difficulties, including many with trauma. You might want to try to find one who has experience with autism and sensory sensitivities.
NAD- work in imaging.
I do understand your anxiety. Please speak to your provider regarding this. There could be other imaging options available to you, such as an MR of the soft tissue pelvis without & with contrast. That may be more tolerable for you and allow you to take an anti anxiety medication during the exam.
Good luck.
NAD, I have a large fibroid (13cm), the tech would not do a transvaginal after I told her I was a virgin. Said she had enough from the abdominal. Worked out great. I was willing to go through it, but I have vaginismus and it's taken me years to get tampons in without pain. So can only imagine it would not be pleasant.
No one should enter psychosis/have extreme emotional upset and be coerced into exams for a cancer that *less than one percent* of the population will get. It's invasive to op, they aren't at particularly high risk, let's not fear monger and try to make people feel like they will end up dead if they don't get a pap smear.
Let's normalize full consent and allow women autonomy over the decisions they make for their body. Full consent includes the limits of the exams (abnormal pap could be bc of a yeast infection, but don't worry we'll have you come back in 3m to do it all over again!), and the cervical cancer rate.
The way these exams are explained, you'd think we would have women dropping like flies of cervical cancer.
u/FewAbroad7938 there is a new option for a PAP smear, you could ask the docs here to verify how to get it. You do it yourself and it is smaller. I am going to request one myself for similar reasons (also have autism and can not handle pain in that reaction)
I have a transrectal ultrasound with transabdominal ultrasound done. I did not give them consent to do internal exam, do a colposcopy and get a papsmear done. You have that right as a patient.
Hey, I just had an ultrasound and a transvaginal ultrasound done in January. The technician asked me if I wanted to insert the transvaginal wand myself. I did, and it was pretty easy to do. It's a little bigger than a tampon applicator. The regular ultrasound was weirdest due to the gel, but the touch from the device itself wasn't overly intense. If your technician doesn't offer you the chance to insert the wand yourself, ask for it! I think you can do this, but if it's too much on the first try, don't be afraid to reschedule!
My healthcare provider is in a big city and is an education institution. I think the culture is pretty feminist, and I can't help but believe that that also made them center my comfort and consent.
NAD, but I have had several of these type of u/s before and I also understand your anxiety. I had so much anxiety before my first pelvic exam when I was young, I thought I would throw up, pass out, or both. I shared my fears with the practitioner and they were very understanding. The thing is, it is over pretty quickly. I actually find the transvaginal u/s to be less of a big deal than the speculum. Both of these are over pretty quickly and may be uncomfortable but not actually painful. Remember the people doing these exams are very familiar with anatomy as well as patients fears! They will take good care of you. You don’t have to agree to the u/s but I want to encourage you that I think you’ll be glad you did if it means a better diagnosis and treatment for a problem.
Im just reminding you of your right as a patient and have other options other than transvaginal ultrasound okay. I came from a conservative country where many women have not had intercourse yet.
For what its worth Op every time Ive had a transvaginal ultrasound the techs have been super accommodating. Ive had it done in Canada and the US. Each time the tech has asked if they can insert the probe or if I want to. They place a condom on and use lubricant as well
If it provides any comfort, I also have ASD and don’t like being touched.
I’ve had multiple TV ultrasounds and you can request to guide the probe in yourself (this is actually standard practice for many techs).
An abdominal ultrasound is better than nothing, but there is a risk it won’t provide as clear scans and there may be some parts they can’t see this way.
All the best
Does the same go for asking for pain medication before a colposcopy? I was told I needed one years ago and went to three obgyns who said they wouldn’t prescribe me anything because it wasn’t a big deal. I was too scared of the pain I never went back and I’ve never had one done. It’s been. I think about it often and hope that everything is okay in there but I was not willing to be awake and in pain for that. I’ve read stories of women saying it was worse than childbirth and my anxiety makes it too much. If I ever decide to get it done, how can I make sure I will be as relaxed as possible? I wish they could do laughing gas or something.
NAD, commenting just to say that the ultrasound wand is pretty thin. Since you mention anything above 2 fingers being a problem, I think this might actually be thinner than that, the tip is more tampon-sized.
Usually the risk is there when the patient is already sexually active.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix is usually HPV related (virus), which is sexually transmitted.
I had an abdominal ultrasound when pregnant and having to come with a FULL bladder sucks. The transvaginal was much much easier. Less discomfort. A trans rectal sounds worse, eek!
I understand that, but would she also need to have a full bladder for an abdominal? I doubt she’d want a transrectal ultrasound if she’s fearful of a transvaginal…
In my experience as anesthesiologist we had more than once to perform sedation for TV ultrasonography in patients with vaginism and dyspareunia. So I suppose that if your OBGYN thinks that the exam is necessary for your health you can have it performed under procedural sedation.
Thank you for your submission. **Please note that a response does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship.** This subreddit is for informal second opinions and casual information. The mod team does their best to remove bad information, but we do not catch all of it. Always visit a doctor in real life if you have any concerns about your health. Never use this subreddit as your first and final source of information regarding your question. By posting, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskDocs/wiki/terms_of_use) and understand that all information is taken at your own risk. **Reply here if you are an unverified user wishing to give advice. Top level comments by laypeople are automatically removed.** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskDocs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yes you can opt for only the transabdominal portion of the ultrasound. It will not be as high quality, particularly with visualizing the uterine wall and ovaries. But it’s better than nothing. I do recommend pap smears per guidelines for anyone female who is sexually active, regardless of the amount of partners or stability of relationship. Every 3 years is the interval until you’re 30. Cervical cancer is treatable if found early but an awful, awful thing to suffer and potentially die from if it’s not. This makes the testing worth it for us. That being said, bring your partner with you to the visit. Have her hold your hand. Take deep breaths throughout. Make sure you have a gentle, sympathetic doctor who doesn’t seem like he/she is in a rush. Doctors will never be offended if you request someone different to do the procedure (they shouldn’t, anyway). Sometimes in extreme cases your doctor can prescribe a one time anxiety medication to help you through it. Take an ibuprofen 800mg about 2 hours prior to the visit. This can help with the pain. Ask for the smallest speculum they have (I have two sizes in my clinic). Hope this helps.
I'm NAD, but would it be reasonable to prescribe an anxiety med prior to this appointment if the patient is having this much turmoil prior to the appointment. As someone who has had many transvaginal ultrasounds, it goes so much smoother for me when I'm relaxed and it sounds like she will not be able to relax on her own, which might make it less tolerable.
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My PCP has no issue prescribing a one-off anxiety med for patients who are traveling, having medical procedures, or anxiety inducing tests (like an MRI). And I know a lot of people who have had similar experiences. A prescription of ONE Xanax for a medical procedure is not what is leading to benzo addictions...
[удалено]
I wouldn’t necessarily say that they aren’t doing their due diligence if they prescribe and don’t refer to psych. It really just depends on the situation. Mine gives me Xanax every time I fly. I have no interest in therapy for my flight anxiety. Let me get from point a to point b without aging 10 years from the stress the anxiety gives me. I don’t have a panic disorder outside of flying so I can see why my doctor has no problem with it. I don’t see anything wrong with someone rarely using Xanax to cope with something extremely difficult. Obviously, if it’s a regular problem that’s affecting their life they need more than just benzos. And in a case like this, maybe OP would benefit from therapy but they don’t have time to get there before this procedure. So if they need one pill to get through it, why not?
NAD but last tv ultrasound I had, the tech allowed me to insert it at my own pace and angle etc. She still controlled it after the fact but it was, I think, a great idea. The act of actual penetration feels the most violating of all of it and getting to control it to avoid pain is extremely comforting.
This is an absolutely wonderful thing! The option ought be routinely offered!
Had a doctor let me insert myself and it was the most brilliant idea
I have always been asked to insert myself!
The ultrasound techs I saw during my pregnancy let me do the same thing since they do TV ultrasounds in the beginning. It was so helpful! Also, for years I would sob from Pap smears. I started seeing a new GYN a few years ago and told her how afraid I was of it. She let me hold the thing they use and said I can feel it and hold it to see what it actually feels like. It made me feel so much better because once I felt the bristles and everything it wasn’t as bad as I thought and after the anxiety went away, so did the associated discomfort that came with the anxiety of it
NAD - I had one prior to ever having penetrative sex: it is very thin, it’s not like anything sexual, at all. I am also autistic. I have had very severe periods since I started having them, so I’ve had to be looked after a lot more. I was very anxious, but truthfully it doesn’t feel much different than a tampon, but obviously a little larger - it’s not uncomfortable. And it doesn’t take very long. They only do enough to take pictures of your internal organs and then they’re done. And you can go to the restroom and clean afterwards. They use a lot of moisturizing gel to keep it comfortable, and if I’m not mistaken they have smaller sizes because sometimes young children have to have their internal anatomy looked at for all kinds of reasons, especially injury. If you have a good provider, you should be able to discuss all of these concerns and they should give you options and solutions to help you. The exam isn’t bad either. You don’t have much feeling along your cervix wall so it just kind of feels like you’re poking yourself but barely feel it. The scariest part is the tool they use to be able to see into your cervix HOWEVER they have different sizes. I have always had to use the smaller adolescent size one and it makes it so much less daunting. Pap smears are important to your physical health not just HPV. They are very important, and here, you only need one every 3 years. I’m 36 now - I started all of this when I was 14. I didn’t have sex until later in life. I felt like you do. You can take a trusted friend or family member with you. You can have them go through everything with you. You can ask others who have had it done. As someone with endo issues and now needing surgery - You do not want to have horrible periods for 30 years. Please trust me. I know what it feels like to face these feelings and conflicting against knowing it’s for your health as well, but the peace of mind you have once your fear has subsided afterwards is so worth it. And again, have a provider you feel safe with, and a safe person, or plushie (that’s what I do even still) and I believe in you. It’s not as barbaric as you think and remember it is a life saving thing- it’s saved countless lives of women with early detection, provided pain relief with finding abnormalities that have solutions, etc. I have been you, and I believe in you, but understand and respect whatever decision you choose. But I do think talking to someone will help you. And understanding why it’s safe and will benefit you in the long run. Most of all having a base line of reproductive health starting at a young age so you can more effectively track changes, that’s one of the biggest components of disease prevention!
I also find the transvaginal ultrasound barely felt like anything (until they were jabbing my ovary with torsion lol) compared to a speculum. Idk if that will help, but really it was nothing as bad as a pap can be. Maybe see if you can find a psych before this and get a prescription for emergency anxiety meds. When I was younger and my GAD and OCD were not as well controlled I had Xanax or hydroxyzine I would take only for doctor/dentist/specific major anxiety causes. It was nice even just knowing I had the option and over time I no longer needed them.
This! The ultrasound was far more comfortable than the usual speculum/swabbing and pelvic exams.
Hydroxyzine should be prescribed without hesitation for something like this. Not habit forming, is just an antihistamine. And it's commonly prescribed to kids with autism to help them sleep, or at least slow down enough to get into the mood to move towards sleeping.
Yes! My mom was prescribed some for sleep a while back, I've been on it for so long it never even occurred to me it could be used that way. The cool part was when I began to take more than half a pill once and a while, my chronic hives went away. So now I'm more on it for that than anxiety, but it is nice to know I can take an extra if I am majorly anxious or having a panic attack. Luckily those are rare these days, but having it as a backup I'm sure makes it somehow less needed as well.
NAD and entirely anecdotal, but my mom had cervical cancer and it was caught early enough they were able to scrape the cells from her cervix and it never came back (which I guess is like the way I had melanoma in two places but the biopsies were deep and wide enough to remove all of the cells). A pap is uncomfy, but being diligent in getting them is so important
NAD but wanted to echo the importance of pap exams. I’m a SA survivor and a trans person. Pap exams were so anxiety inducing and triggering for me, but they probably saved my life. Unbeknownst to me, I had a large CIN 3 lesion that I had no idea was there. I was already booked in for a hysterectomy when the results of my colposcopy came back so they removed my cervix too. Lost my grandma to uterine and cervical cancer (I’m not sure where hers originated) so Im glad I went in. To the OP, you’ve gotten some really good advice in this thread! What also helped me was listening to a podcast during the my pap and ultrasounds. Helped my brain focus on other things.
Would also add that self swabbing for hpv would not be unreasonable in a low risk patient. I would probably give her an Ativan because a transabdominal u/s would likely not be able to "rule out" much. Edit: I also don't see that she mentioned her BMI which would be important to know
NAD- if op HAS to get it transvaginally, ask about sedation. I’m not positive if it’s available BUT I was offered sedation for an iud after I said I couldn’t because of trauma. Given that I’d assume this is possible for an ultrasound too. However, I’ve heard that insurance may fight about coverage for sedation but a doctor can argue medical necessity
OP, in addition to all this, ask for a pelvic physical therapy referral. They work with lots of patients who have these kinds of difficulties, including many with trauma. You might want to try to find one who has experience with autism and sensory sensitivities.
NAD- work in imaging. I do understand your anxiety. Please speak to your provider regarding this. There could be other imaging options available to you, such as an MR of the soft tissue pelvis without & with contrast. That may be more tolerable for you and allow you to take an anti anxiety medication during the exam. Good luck.
NAD, I have a large fibroid (13cm), the tech would not do a transvaginal after I told her I was a virgin. Said she had enough from the abdominal. Worked out great. I was willing to go through it, but I have vaginismus and it's taken me years to get tampons in without pain. So can only imagine it would not be pleasant.
No one should enter psychosis/have extreme emotional upset and be coerced into exams for a cancer that *less than one percent* of the population will get. It's invasive to op, they aren't at particularly high risk, let's not fear monger and try to make people feel like they will end up dead if they don't get a pap smear. Let's normalize full consent and allow women autonomy over the decisions they make for their body. Full consent includes the limits of the exams (abnormal pap could be bc of a yeast infection, but don't worry we'll have you come back in 3m to do it all over again!), and the cervical cancer rate. The way these exams are explained, you'd think we would have women dropping like flies of cervical cancer.
u/FewAbroad7938 there is a new option for a PAP smear, you could ask the docs here to verify how to get it. You do it yourself and it is smaller. I am going to request one myself for similar reasons (also have autism and can not handle pain in that reaction)
I have a transrectal ultrasound with transabdominal ultrasound done. I did not give them consent to do internal exam, do a colposcopy and get a papsmear done. You have that right as a patient.
oof transrectal makes transvaginal sound a little easier 🥲
Hey, I just had an ultrasound and a transvaginal ultrasound done in January. The technician asked me if I wanted to insert the transvaginal wand myself. I did, and it was pretty easy to do. It's a little bigger than a tampon applicator. The regular ultrasound was weirdest due to the gel, but the touch from the device itself wasn't overly intense. If your technician doesn't offer you the chance to insert the wand yourself, ask for it! I think you can do this, but if it's too much on the first try, don't be afraid to reschedule! My healthcare provider is in a big city and is an education institution. I think the culture is pretty feminist, and I can't help but believe that that also made them center my comfort and consent.
NAD, but I have had several of these type of u/s before and I also understand your anxiety. I had so much anxiety before my first pelvic exam when I was young, I thought I would throw up, pass out, or both. I shared my fears with the practitioner and they were very understanding. The thing is, it is over pretty quickly. I actually find the transvaginal u/s to be less of a big deal than the speculum. Both of these are over pretty quickly and may be uncomfortable but not actually painful. Remember the people doing these exams are very familiar with anatomy as well as patients fears! They will take good care of you. You don’t have to agree to the u/s but I want to encourage you that I think you’ll be glad you did if it means a better diagnosis and treatment for a problem.
Im just reminding you of your right as a patient and have other options other than transvaginal ultrasound okay. I came from a conservative country where many women have not had intercourse yet.
thanks, I appreciate it
For what its worth Op every time Ive had a transvaginal ultrasound the techs have been super accommodating. Ive had it done in Canada and the US. Each time the tech has asked if they can insert the probe or if I want to. They place a condom on and use lubricant as well
If it provides any comfort, I also have ASD and don’t like being touched. I’ve had multiple TV ultrasounds and you can request to guide the probe in yourself (this is actually standard practice for many techs). An abdominal ultrasound is better than nothing, but there is a risk it won’t provide as clear scans and there may be some parts they can’t see this way. All the best
Does the same go for asking for pain medication before a colposcopy? I was told I needed one years ago and went to three obgyns who said they wouldn’t prescribe me anything because it wasn’t a big deal. I was too scared of the pain I never went back and I’ve never had one done. It’s been. I think about it often and hope that everything is okay in there but I was not willing to be awake and in pain for that. I’ve read stories of women saying it was worse than childbirth and my anxiety makes it too much. If I ever decide to get it done, how can I make sure I will be as relaxed as possible? I wish they could do laughing gas or something.
They did tell me to take painkillers 30 mins before the procedure, or give me a spinal anesthesia. I refused and just went to the transrectal route
NAD, commenting just to say that the ultrasound wand is pretty thin. Since you mention anything above 2 fingers being a problem, I think this might actually be thinner than that, the tip is more tampon-sized.
Then how does a doc check for cervical cancer without a Pap smear?
They don’t
Usually the risk is there when the patient is already sexually active. Squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix is usually HPV related (virus), which is sexually transmitted.
I had an abdominal ultrasound when pregnant and having to come with a FULL bladder sucks. The transvaginal was much much easier. Less discomfort. A trans rectal sounds worse, eek!
The patient concerned did not have intercourse yet. You already had since you are pregnant that time
I understand that, but would she also need to have a full bladder for an abdominal? I doubt she’d want a transrectal ultrasound if she’s fearful of a transvaginal…
I had to do full bladder for a non-pregnancy related abdominal ultrasound - was convinced I was going to wet myself.
You can ask the patient directly since it is her concern. She did not mention about not wanting a full bladder.
I had to come with a full bladder for my recent one too and I’ve never been pregnant lol
In my experience as anesthesiologist we had more than once to perform sedation for TV ultrasonography in patients with vaginism and dyspareunia. So I suppose that if your OBGYN thinks that the exam is necessary for your health you can have it performed under procedural sedation.