Internal vs external ultrasound scans

As I understand it, before a certain point you have to have an internal ultrasound scan (scope is inserted vaginally) rather than the usual external one. In my last pregnancy my first scan was at nearly 11 weeks and it was just a normal external one so I know the cutoff is sometime before that.
https://showbox.bio/ https://tutuapp.uno/ https://vidmate.cool/
In this pregnancy I have been referred for a dating scan when I will only be (according to dates) 8.5 weeks. That seems pretty early - does anyone know whether it is possible to have an external scan this early or is it more likely that I will have to have an internal one? If internal, I an freaking out a bit because a friend told me it was really uncomfortable - can anyone reassure me????

Thanks!

Edited by Kool265314 - 09 October 2020 at 9:30pm