What is a Pelvic Ultrasound?

A pelvic ultrasound test uses sound waves to make a picture of the inside of the lower belly. It allows your doctor to see your bladder, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The sound waves create a picture on a video monitor.

The ultrasound test can be done in two ways:

• Transabdominal. A small handheld device (transducer) is passed back and forth over your lower belly
• Transvaginal. A thin, lubricated transducer is placed in your vagina.

Why is a Pelvic Ultrasound done?

A pelvic ultrasound test is done to:

• Find the cause of urinary problems.
• Find out what’s causing pelvic pain.
• Look for causes of vaginal bleeding and menstrual problems.
• Check for growths or masses like ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids.
• See if a fertilized egg is growing outside the uterus. This is called a tubal pregnancy
• Confirm the stage of a pregnancy and check the baby’s heartbeat.

How can you prepare for the Pelvic Ultrasound test?

• If you are having a transabdominal ultrasound, your doctor will ask you drink 4 to 6 glasses water about an hour before the test. This will fill your bladder. If you can’t fill your bladder, it can be filled with water through a thin, flexible tube (catheter).
• If you are having both transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasounds done, you will start with a full bladder. You will be asked to empty it before the transvaginal ultrasound.

What happens before the Pelvic Ultrasound test?

• You will need to remove any jewelry that might be in the way of the ultrasound
• You will need to take off most of your clothes below the waist. You’ll be given a gown to wear during the test.

What happens during the Pelvic Ultrasound test?

For a transabdominal ultrasound:

• You lie down on your back on an exam table.
• A warm gel will be spread on your lower belly. This improves the transmission of the sound waves. The handheld transducer is pressed against belly and gently moved back and forth. A picture of the organs can be seen on a video monitor.

For a transvaginal ultrasound:

• You lie down on your back on an exam table with your hips slightly raised.
• The tip of a thin, lubricated transducer probe is gently inserted into your vagina. The transducer may be moved around to get a complete view. The images from the test are shown on a video monitor.

What else should you know about the test?

• With a transabdominal ultrasound, you will feel light pressure from the transducer as it passes over your belly. If you have an injury or pelvic pain, the pressure may be painful.
• With a transvaginal ultrasound, you may feel some discomfort from the transducer probe as it is put into your vagina.
• You will not hear or feel the sound waves.

How long does a Pelvic UltraSound take?

• The transabdominal ultrasound test will take about 30 minutes
• The transvaginal ultrasound test will take 15 to 30 minutes