Midwife Led Package
Midwife Antenatal Consultations
If you are having certain kinds of scan, such as a gynaecological ultrasound or an early pregnancy scan, then it may be necessary to perform a transvaginal ultrasound. The transvaginal or internal scan can sound scary, but it is very safe and shouldn’t cause more than slight discomfort.
The transvaginal scan is performed using a specially designed ultrasound probe that is inserted into the vagina. The probe is very small and it will be inserted carefully, using lots of lubrication to prevent discomfort. Having a transvaginal ultrasound may feel a little bit uncomfortable or embarrassing, but it shouldn’t hurt. If you have had a cervical smear before, then you will probably find that the transvaginal scan is less uncomfortable because there is no need to hold the vagina open with a speculum.
To give you some idea of what to expect, the ultrasound probe will usually:
When you have an internal scan you should expect that:
Some women may experience more discomfort during an internal scan as everyone is different. Let your sonographer know if you are uncomfortable or in pain, and inform them of any issues with your cervix or vagina before the ultrasound so they can take extra care.
If you have any worries before or during the scan, you should let your sonographer or doctor know so that they can reassure you and help you to relax. You might also want to try breathing deeply or using other techniques to help keep your muscles relaxed and your mind calm. Remember that you can tell the sonographer to stop if you need to take a break at any point.