Except under this law, you do.  And unlike other medical procedures, you’re not allowed to refuse.

b) Transvaginal Ultrasound is the name of my Nine Inch Nails cover band

It’s interesting that the Virginia law is generating so much attention when  other states didn’t. I thinks its because in the intervening time the Republicans have switched to an all anti-reproductive freedom all the time format.

Do they really think this is a winning message?

Have you been hearing a lot of people complaining that doctors aren’t providing needed ultrasounds (regular and trasnvaginal)?  And that it’s killing women?  No?  Not even in this debate has this been brought up.  It’s not like doctors aren’t giving necessary care when, well, necessary.  There was no need at all for the government to mandate this!  To mandate something be shoved up a woman’s vagina, no matter what the doctor or the patient actually needs, is indeed government mandated rape.

Not to mention, can you think of any other medical procedure that the government mandates be done, always, no matter how necessary or not it is?  Why is it only this that is being mandated?

DOCTORS ALREADY PROVIDE ULTRASOUNDS.  There is no need to mandate it.  Even normal ones.  To do so is fucking insulting, both to patients and to doctors, and it has nothing to do with the health of women.  NOTHING.  It has to do with controlling the choice of women.

No one is saying that ultrasounds aren’t a good idea.  No one!  You are making that up.

They are arguing that the government mandating them is wrong wrong WRONG.

Does the government think both women AND their doctors are so stupid that they are both unable to know when a transvaginal ultrasound would be necessary or recommended during an abortion? Again, why is it only THIS that is being mandated? Why should any medical procedure be mandated by the government? The government is not a doctor.

Also, my sister had an abortion many years ago, and she got a regular ultrasound; not a transvaginal. It is not always medically necessary to get one during an abortion. This is something the doctor and patient should be deciding, together, not the government.

And, again, if the government MANDATES someone shove something up your vagina even if it’s not necessary, or MANDATES someone shove something up your vagina with zero input from your doctor, and regardless of the actual situation, it is rape.

However the intentions go, the actual facts bear out much in favor of women:

To get an abortion you need to get an ultrasound for your *own health*. Many other health problems may mimic pregnancy. This bill is ridiculous in requiring them, but medical best practices generally include an ultrasound.

Ultrasounds are a good idea.

At most abortion providers, transvaginal ultrasounds are part of  standard care anyway in order to date the pregnancy  and check for ectopic pregnancy etc.  Yes, abortions  can be done without it, but it’s not really the preferred method in Western countries with lots of resources.  In my mind the problem with the bill is not that transvaginal ultrasounds are ”icky” and “rapey” in and of themselves.  Instead it’s that this care decision has been taken away from the patient and her physician.