Transvaginal ultrasounds are used to examine reproductive organs and pregnancies in early stages. They are not uncomfortable and do not require a full bladder. They can detect reproductive organ disorders and potential defects in pregnancies. Results are usually discussed with the patient’s doctor.
Sometimes a regular abdominal or pelvic ultrasound isn’t enough to visualize the reproductive organs or gather details about a pregnancy. If this is the case, especially in the very early stages of pregnancy, doctors may order a transvaginal ultrasound instead. Simply put, it is an ultrasound in which the Doppler or transducer is placed inside the vagina for a more thorough examination and a closer look at reproductive structures or a pregnancy.
Unless it’s particularly sensitive, most women won’t find transvaginal ultrasound to be an uncomfortable procedure. It is similar to a pelvic exam, which usually takes a little longer. Most women can expect to lie flat on their back and they or the technician can insert the well-lubricated, coated transducer into the vagina. The ultrasound technician or technologist gently manipulates the portion of the transducer that extends from the vagina to examine the pelvis, ovaries, uterus, and cervix. These visualizations are then read out on a screen, and the technology can magnify both specific areas and sounds to hear things like a baby’s heartbeat, or to view things like multiple pregnancies, cysts, or any abnormality that might cause concern.
One thing that is different between transvaginal ultrasound and the abdominal types is that the exam does not occur when women have full bladders. This is typically a requirement if the Doppler ultrasound is to travel over the stomach because it helps to better visualize the underlying structures. Vaginal ultrasounds would not be advisable with a full bladder, given their location, and furthermore they are not necessary given the greater proximity to the pelvic area. The suggestion of a transvaginal ultrasound can be of great relief for women who have difficulty holding urine for long periods of time, as is common in pregnancy.
During pregnancy, some women experience transvaginal ultrasound very early on when the fetus is small, often under 12 weeks. The procedure could be ordered for other reasons. It could be suggested as a means of screening for a variety of reproductive organ disorders. Things like fibroids, tumors, cysts, infections, or endometriosis might be found transvaginally, although some of these can also be found on regular abdominal ultrasounds. Suspected problems with a pregnancy or the need to look for potential defects could also prompt the transvaginal approach, although it should be noted that this approach is not always indicative of suspected health problems.
Indeed, in many circumstances women will have several ultrasound scans during their pregnancy. Some of these tests may be conducted vaginally, even as the pregnancy progresses. Sometimes a closer look or listening, such as for a fetal heartbeat, is more desirable, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the person taking a test thinks there’s a problem.
Unless a woman’s doctor does ultrasound of any kind, women can expect to wait a few days for results. Technicians and even radiologists on staff are usually not allowed to discuss results directly with patients. If problems arise, the patient’s doctor is usually notified fairly immediately and it is likely that she will be in contact with the patient soon to discuss the findings.
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