The current Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many hospitals having to put clinics on hold, with scans and other investigations, and routine surgery being delayed. The consequence of this was long waiting lists for many routine investigations such as ultrasound scans, with many hospitals reporting a huge backlog. NHS services continue to be overwhelmed due to staff sickness and Covid absences. In December 2021, NHS England reported that the test with the largest waiting list was Non-obstetric Ultrasound, which accounted for 33.7% of the total waiting list, or 481,700 patients.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has said in a recent survey of 837 women, published in April 2022, that patients were “consistently deprioritised and overlooked”. Women living with debilitating symptoms were suffering with poor mental health, with 80% of respondents saying their mental health had worsened due to the wait for diagnosis and treatment. The worry of not knowing when they will be seen, waiting for care, juggling work commitments and family life, while continuing to manage symptoms such as pain and bleeding; all these pressures have had a huge impact on the mental health of thousands of women.
Hospitals have to prioritise emergency and urgent cases over routine care, and it really is a postcode lottery as to the length of time you have to wait for an initial consultation. While hospitals have to see many people for urgent scans within 2 weeks, the criteria for having an urgent scan is strict, and limited to specific symptoms.
This doesn’t make your symptoms any less important.
If you are currently experiencing problems, there are alternatives to waiting weeks for an ultrasound scan on the NHS. Somerset Early Scans offers Gynaecological Ultrasound in addition to pregnancy scans, and currently there is no waiting list. We offer scans in a Covid-safe environment, and you will be scanned by either an experienced Advanced Practitioner Sonographer, Nurse Practitioner or Doctor, all of whom work in the NHS in addition to their role at Somerset Early Scans.
Many of our clients choose to book an ultrasound scan after having been referred for a pelvic scan in the NHS by their GP. They are also unwilling to wait for a hospital scan appointment. Going privately bypasses this, allowing quicker and more convenient appointments with faster results. We offer a range of flexible, convenient appointments to suit you and your other commitments, with clinics running during the day, evening and weekends across both our sites in Paulton (near Bath) and Bridgwater.
The pelvis is commonly a source of many problems for women, some of which can be detected by a simple pelvic ultrasound scan. This scan is often requested by physicians at the very early stages following symptoms such as pain, irregular or heavy periods, unusual bleeding or to look for a lost coil, and can provide valuable, vital information. Often time is of the essence in many health conditions and seeking early medical advice and services may allow for better outcomes.
What is the objective of the pelvic ultrasound scan?
The purpose of the pelvic ultrasound scan is to assess the major female pelvic organs:
- Uterus (womb)
- Thickness and condition of the lining of the womb (Endometrium)
- Ovaries
- Adnexa (area around the womb)
Possible indications for requesting a pelvic scan include:
- Pain or discomfort
- Bloating
- Abnormal blood tests
- Irregular or erratic vaginal bleeding
- To assess coil (IUCD or IUS) position, for example if you cannot find the strings
- Irregular or erratic periods
- Spotting between periods
- Painful / Heavy Periods
- Recurrent miscarriages
- Delay in conception
- To detect fibroids
- To detect ovarian cysts
- To assess for polycystic ovaries (PCO)
- To assess presence of polyps
- To assess possible cause for painful sexual intercourse
- To assess endometrial thickness
- Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
What does the pelvic scan involve?
Please come with a full bladder as this tilts the womb backwards and acts as a window to help obtain good images. Drink 1-1.5L of fluids at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment. It is best to avoid caffeine as this will make it harder to hold on! Often an internal (transvaginal) scan is needed, and you may opt to go straight for this instead as it does give clearer views. You need an empty bladder for an internal scan. If in doubt, or if you feel uncomfortable having an internal scan, please come with a full bladder and we can discuss it with you when you arrive.
If you opt to have the transabdominal (tummy) scan first, you will be asked to uncover your pelvic area and a small amount of jelly will be placed over your skin. An ultrasound transducer will then be placed on top and moved along your pelvis. This will result in a picture appearing on the ultrasound monitor. This scan may be brief if you are having a transvaginal scan (TVS).
A transvaginal scan is also routine in the majority of cases which may be offered straight away at the start of the appointment instead of the scan over your tummy as it can usually demonstrate images of better resolution and therefore more information about the pelvic organs. We recommend a transvaginal scan rather than a tummy scan if you are menopausal as the ovaries are smaller and more difficult to see across your tummy.
For an internal scan you will be asked to empty your bladder. You will need to take everything on your bottom half off and a paper sheet will be provided to cover yourself. An ultrasound probe (which is like a small tampon) will be placed inside your vagina which will be moved around to obtain information. This procedure is usually pain free, however occasionally, you may experience some discomfort. You will be able to pause or stop this procedure at any time if you feel the need to. Your dignity will be respected at all times.
At the end of the examination a brief explanation of the results will be provided. A written formal ultrasound report of the examination including any measurements will be given or sent by encrypted email, which you can take or send to your doctor or regular healthcare professional.
Although a pelvic scan in isolation cannot diagnose cancer, it can detect signs that indicate malignant changes that warrant further urgent investigation. Your doctor uses the scan result, alongside blood tests and clinical examination, as well as your symptoms to decide whether referral to a specialist is required.
Other conditions that are detectable with ultrasound, such as fibroids and endometrial polyps, are progressive and if left untreated, could require more complex and invasive surgery.
Indeed, a normal pelvic ultrasound scan in conjunction with clinical signs and symptoms can also lead a doctor to suspect endometriosis, and the appropriate referral made to speed up diagnosis of this distressing and debilitating condition.
Having an earlier ultrasound scan means that this diagnosis can be obtained sooner. A concise ultrasound report will enable the GP to take the best pathway, and if appropriate will refer to Gynaecology for further treatment, thereby ensuring a better outcome.
A private ultrasound scan might just give you the peace of mind and reassurance that certain conditions have been excluded.