
You usually don’t need to do this for a rectal or transvaginal ultrasound.
Sonogram definition full#
A full bladder helps the transducer’s sound waves travel, creating a clearer picture of your bladder. Your healthcare provider may ask you to drink plenty of water before an abdominal pelvic ultrasound. How should I prepare for a pelvic ultrasound? Sonograms also show blood flowing through blood vessels. Sonograms are pictures in real time, meaning they show your organs’ movements as they happen. The computer translates the echoes into images, which appear on the screen. They then return to the transducer as echoes. As your healthcare provider moves the transducer, the sound waves bounce off certain types of tissue. The transducer connects to a computer and a screen. This small, wand-like instrument gives off sound waves. How does a pelvic scan create images?ĭuring a pelvic ultrasound, a sonographer uses a special tool called a transducer. In some cases, your doctor may do the exam. The medical field calls these providers sonographers. An IUD is a device placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy.Ī healthcare provider who specializes in ultrasounds usually performs a pelvic ultrasound. The ultrasound can help guide the biopsy needle to the right location.Īnother use for a pelvic ultrasound is to check the positioning of an intrauterine device (IUD). A biopsy is a procedure to collect a small sample of tissue from inside your body. Infections or cysts in seminal vesicles (glands that help produce semen).Īre there other uses for a pelvic ultrasound?Ī healthcare provider may use a pelvic ultrasound to perform a biopsy.Kidney stones that have traveled or are traveling down to your bladder.What conditions can a pelvic ultrasound diagnose?Ī pelvic ultrasound can help diagnose a range of conditions: Unusual periods or bleeding after menopause.When would a healthcare provider recommend a pelvic ultrasound?Ī healthcare provider may recommend a pelvic ultrasound if you have: Transvaginal ultrasound, which examines the reproductive organs from inside the vagina.A special exam called a transrectal ultrasound looks at the prostate. Rectal ultrasound, which examines the inside of the rectum.Pregnancy ultrasound, which watches fetal development in the uterus.Abdominal ultrasound, which examines organs from outside the belly.

Each looks at different organs or serves a particular purpose: There are different types of pelvic ultrasounds.


Prostate, a gland that helps with reproduction in men.Ovaries, organs that make and store eggs.Fallopian tubes, which carry eggs between the ovaries and uterus.An ultrasound is a safe, fairly quick procedure that’s available at most imaging centers and some doctors’ offices.Ī pelvic ultrasound looks at the organs in your pelvic area between your abdomen (belly) and legs. An ultrasound is an imaging exam that uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of organs inside your body.
