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Hello, I’m Dr. Jay Pahade, a diagnostic radiologist and pelvic imaging specialist at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. I’d like to talk with you about pelvic ultrasound.
Pelvic ultrasound uses sound waves to produce pictures of the structures and organs in the lower abdomen and pelvis. It’s a safe, noninvasive test that is often used to help evaluate the reproductive organs and bladder.
In women, pelvic ultrasound is used to monitor the health and development of a baby during pregnancy. It may also be used to help diagnose causes of pelvic pain or abnormal vaginal bleeding by assessing your uterus and ovaries. A transvaginal ultrasound is a type of pelvic ultrasound that may also be performed to better assess the uterus and ovaries. In men, pelvic ultrasound may be used to evaluate the bladder or prostate.
If your doctor has scheduled you for a pelvic ultrasound exam, there are several things you can do to prepare.
First, leave jewelry at home and wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to wear a gown.
Preparation will depend on the type of your exam, and you will be given instructions regarding eating and drinking beforehand. Unless a biopsy is required, most ultrasound exams do not involve needles or injections. While it may be temporarily uncomfortable, an ultrasound exam is almost never painful.
Remember, ultrasound is extremely safe and does not use radiation. It often provides a clear picture of organs in the pelvis that do not show up well on a regular x-ray image and has no known harmful effects.
To learn more about ultrasound imaging, visit RadiologyInfo dot org.
Thank you for your time!
