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My 34 Year Old Daughter Is 10 Weeks Pregnant Scan Tech Apparently Forgot To Put On The Plastic/latex Probe Cover Should I Be Worried About Baby Health?
Question: my 34 year old daughter is 10 weeks pregnant after a very long go at it. she had a transvaginal ultrasound on friday and the tech apparently forgot to put on the plastic/latex probe cover on the transducer. so my question is....how should my daughter proceed? she is hysterical over this and is worrying that she may have caught some infection from a previous patient that could impact her baby's health? can you provide some guidance as to how to proceed or provide some reassurance?
Brief Answer:
No harm to baby. Some more information please.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have understood your concern and I will suggest you the best possible treatment options.First of all, I will suggest your daughter not to panic.
As such it will not cause any serious infection and harm to her baby.
It is not easy for vaginal bacteria to directly enter the uterus during pregnancy as there is a thick plug of mucus at the opening of the womb ,means in the cervix, that prevents entry of pathogenic organisms.
Vaginal flora itself produces Lactic acid to prevent growth of pathogenic bacteria and helps maintain vaginal hygiene.
Secondly, I would like to know from her about some more details.
Does she have any vaginal symptoms after doing the test?
Is she getting vaginal itching, irritation while passing urine or foul smelling vagina discharge?
Thanks.
Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar.
No harm to baby. Some more information please.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have understood your concern and I will suggest you the best possible treatment options.First of all, I will suggest your daughter not to panic.
As such it will not cause any serious infection and harm to her baby.
It is not easy for vaginal bacteria to directly enter the uterus during pregnancy as there is a thick plug of mucus at the opening of the womb ,means in the cervix, that prevents entry of pathogenic organisms.
Vaginal flora itself produces Lactic acid to prevent growth of pathogenic bacteria and helps maintain vaginal hygiene.
Secondly, I would like to know from her about some more details.
Does she have any vaginal symptoms after doing the test?
Is she getting vaginal itching, irritation while passing urine or foul smelling vagina discharge?
Thanks.
Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
My daughter has no symptoms you describe but she just had her ultrasound on Friday (yesterday) so probably too soon to have symptoms. Should she tell her ob/gyn this happened? This seems like a pretty serious mistake to me? Shouldn't there always be a plastic/latex covering on the probe to protect against passing an infection, herpes, or any other vaginal infection?
i mean, what about contracting sexually transmitted diseases? Her doc is at Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston?
Brief Answer:
Lactic acid containing vaginal wash. Vaginal pessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
thanks for appreciating the answer and reverting back to me.
I have gone through your reply.
It is very useful input for me to suggest you better option.
I do really agree with your concern, about hygiene and risk of transmission of infections.
Please convey the episode to her treating doctor.
In the mean time ask your daughter to keep watch for symptoms of vaginal infection.
She can start use of Lactic acid containing vaginal wash, during bath time.
Use of vaginal pessary containing Clotrimazole and Clindamycin, at night for a week.
I hope this answer helps you.
Thanks.
Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar
Lactic acid containing vaginal wash. Vaginal pessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
thanks for appreciating the answer and reverting back to me.
I have gone through your reply.
It is very useful input for me to suggest you better option.
I do really agree with your concern, about hygiene and risk of transmission of infections.
Please convey the episode to her treating doctor.
In the mean time ask your daughter to keep watch for symptoms of vaginal infection.
She can start use of Lactic acid containing vaginal wash, during bath time.
Use of vaginal pessary containing Clotrimazole and Clindamycin, at night for a week.
I hope this answer helps you.
Thanks.
Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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