An ultrasound is an imaging test that is used to assess the organs and structure inside of your body. A pelvic ultrasound lets your healthcare provider look at your:
- Uterus
- Cervix
- Vagina
- Fallopian tubes
- Ovaries
Ultrasounds use a device called a transducer that works by sending out sound waves that are too high of a frequency to be heard. The transducer sends those high sound waves through your skin and other body tissues to the organs and structures within. The sound waves then bounce off the organs like an echo and return to the transducer. The transducer picks up the reflected waves and these waves are changed into a picture of the organs on a monitor.
The ultrasound technologist starts this process by putting a clear gel on your skin and moving the transducer on the surface of your skin with the gel applied. The gel lets the ultrasound technologist move the transducer smoothly over your skin and helps conduct the sound waves.
A pelvic ultrasound may be done in two ways:
Transabdominal: A transducer conducts sound waves on your skin using the gel.
Transvaginal: A long, thin transducer is covered with plastic or latex and gel. The transducer is then inserted into the vagina to produce incredibly detailed images of the organs in the pelvic region.
Why Might I Need a Pelvic Ultrasound?
You may need a pelvic ultrasound so that your healthcare provider can measure or assess your pelvic organs. Your provider may use the ultrasound to look at:
- Size and shape of your uterus and ovaries and their location
- Thickness and density of tissues and organs inside your pelvic region
- Fluids or masses in the endometrium, muscles of the uterus (myometrium), fallopian tubes or bladder
- Thickness and length of your cervix
- Changes in your bladder
- Blood flow through your pelvic organs
Pelvic ultrasounds can give your healthcare provider lots of information about the size and place of pelvic structures. It may also be used to diagnose or treat certain conditions. However, a pelvic ultrasound cannot be utilized to diagnose cancer or other specific diseases.
Your healthcare provider may use pelvic ultrasound to help:
- Find problems in the structure of the uterus, including endometrial conditions (like endometriosis)
- Find fibroid tumors (benign growths), cysts, masses and other types of tumors within the pelvic region
- Find an IUD (intrauterine contraceptive device)
- Diagnose pelvic inflammatory disease or other types of inflammation or infection
- Find the cause or source of bleeding after menopause
- Observe your ovaries when going through infertility treatment
- Collect fluid and eggs from the follicles in the ovaries for in vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Diagnose pregnancy outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube (ectopic pregnancy)
- Observe how your fetus is growing during pregnancy
- Find and assess certain fetal conditions
Your healthcare provider will recommend the type of ultrasound procedure to use. You may require one type of pelvic ultrasound, or in some cases both, to help them make a proper diagnosis or provide treatment.