Transvaginal ultrasound examination is sometimes recommended in pelvic examinations, if a good enough view is not achieved with the transabdominal approach.
The trans-abdominal approach is good for getting a broad, global view of the pelvic organs. But the trans-vaginal approach gives high-resolution close up pictures of the ovaries and uterus.
These options will be discussed with you and ultimately it is your choice whether or not to proceed to a trans-vaginal examination.
If you are happy to proceed, you will be asked to empty your bladder, put on a gown, and lie down under a sheet.
A specially designed transducer is used. It is about 2cm wide.
Naturally, it is sterilized before use, and then it is covered with a condom and some lubricating gel. It is gently placed into the vagina by the sonographer, or you may prefer to insert it yourself. We know it might be a bit embarrassing, but all of the sonographers in this practice are women, so we know to keep you covered and dim the lights. Having your period doesn't matter. You just need to remove the tampon if you are using one. Fresh tampons and pads are available in the bathroom for afterwards.
The best time for a gynaecological ultrasound examination is just after your period has finished. At this time, the lining of the uterus is nice and thin, so any abnormalities in it are easily seen. Later in the cycle the endometrium becomes very thick and bright. This makes some pathology like polyps more difficult to see.
Sometimes it is not possible to wait until the bleeding stops. If that is the case, don't worry. We can often determine the cause of bleeding anyway.
We can scan you at any time during the menstrual cycle.
If the images of the endometrium are not clear, the doctor may recommend an additional procedure, like infusion of saline into the endometrial cavity. This is called sono-hysterography. Click the link for the explanation of Sono-hysterography.
Most patients find the examination far less uncomfortable than they expected. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes and you can watch the images on the overhead monitor. The sonographer or doctor will be quite happy to explain the findings along the way.
After the examination the transducer will be gently removed, and then you can pop back to the bathroom to get changed in privacy.
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