What types of pelvic ultrasound are there?
To understand how a pelvic ultrasound is performed, it is necessary to understand the essence of the study. It is based on obtaining images of organs on a monitor in real time. In order to see the desired organ, the ultrasound doctor places a special sensor above it, displays a “picture” on the device screen and makes certain measurements from it.
Some pelvic organs are clearly visible when the sensor is installed on the lower abdomen - this is an external method of examination.
For increased visualization of organs or a more detailed examination of them, an internal method is used, in which an ultrasound device sensor is inserted into the human body through natural openings: the vagina in women and the rectum in men. Which pelvic ultrasound is best to do, which method is required in each case, the doctor decides individually, taking into account the expected diagnosis.
Preparation for ultrasound OMT
Pelvic ultrasound requires preliminary preparation. It will be the same for men and women. You are on a diet for 3–4 days before the procedure. You need to remove gas-forming foods from your diet. These are cabbage, legumes, yeast baked goods, carbonated drinks. It is better to give preference to cereals, vegetable broths, lean meat and fish.
You need to eat food in small portions so as not to overload your stomach. It is important to maintain a drinking regime, drink at least 1.5 liters of clean water without gas per day.
On the recommendation of a doctor, on the eve of a transrectal ultrasound, you should use a microenema. The large intestine must be clean.
How men are examined
The study is mandatory for patients with complaints of various urinary problems, unpleasant or even painful sensations in the pelvis, with impaired potency, as well as for preventive purposes after 40 years.
What do they look for on a pelvic ultrasound in men? Depending on the preliminary diagnosis, the doctor examines the bladder, seminal vesicles, prostate, and looks at the lymph nodes located nearby.
For diseases of the bladder, ultrasound is performed transabdominally - through the anterior abdominal wall. The patient lies on a medical couch, exposes the lower abdomen, onto which the doctor applies a special gel to improve the signal from the sensor. The procedure lasts approximately 20 minutes. Before the examination, it is often necessary to fill the bladder, and after the examination, carry out a second examination, but with an empty bladder.
In cases where it is necessary to examine the prostate and/or seminal vesicles, an ultrasound examination of the organs is done by inserting a special sensor through the anus - the so-called transrectal ultrasound or TRUS. This method causes a somewhat uncomfortable feeling in the patient, however, with this type of examination, the device’s sensor is in close contact with the prostate gland, which means a detailed examination of the organ by the doctor and the most accurate conclusion.
Are there any restrictions for ultrasound diagnostics?
When a woman suffers from pain during menstruation, or her cycle is unstable for a long time, the gynecologist gives a referral for an ultrasound. To obtain information about the condition of the fallopian tubes and follicles, it is important to conduct the examination on days 5-7 from the first day of the cycle, that is, from the day of menstrual bleeding.
But if you want to find out the cause of problems with conception, research must be carried out at least three times:
- from the 8th to the 10th day from the beginning of menstruation;
- from the 14th to the 16th day from the first day of bleeding;
- from the 22nd to the 24th day of the cycle.
For pregnant women, there are also certain time frames for assessing the condition of the fetus. Conducting an ultrasound examination at other times is not considered informative. Each trimester of pregnancy has its own weeks for diagnosis:
- from 10th to 14th week;
- from the 20th to the 24th week;
- from the 30th to the 34th week.
If there are suspicions of pathologies, the number of studies can be increased to determine the condition of the fetus over time.
How women are examined
Types of pelvic ultrasound in women are also divided into external and internal. The difference between them lies in the information content and access to the organ being studied. How the study is carried out is determined by the doctor, based on the expected diagnosis and the patient’s condition. To obtain the maximum possible information about a woman’s pelvic organs, both types of ultrasound are often performed simultaneously.
The doctor conducts a transabdominal examination by installing the device’s sensor on the patient’s lower abdomen. With this method, on the monitor you can see an overview of the pelvic organs, their location, and general condition. If there is a suspicion of a tumor in the pelvis, the transabdominal method identifies it.
Transvaginal ultrasound is a research method in which a special sensor is inserted into a woman’s vagina. The image on the monitor with this type is more detailed, which allows you to carefully study the required organ, clarify the nature of the pathological process with less likelihood of error.
If the patient has not been sexually active, and an ultrasound of the pelvic organs needs to be done internally, transrectal ultrasound is used, which includes the insertion of a special sensor into the rectum. The examination is accompanied by a slight and quickly passing feeling of discomfort. Allows you to clearly present the picture of the organ being examined, even in the absence of the possibility of conducting a transvaginal examination.
What does a pregnant ultrasound tell you?
Pregnant women can refuse a routine examination with an ultrasound machine, but this is not recommended, because this painless type of diagnosis allows you to find out about very important changes in the child’s body, in particular, whether he has Down syndrome. According to the regulations of conduct, a medical worker is obliged to notify future parents about a serious genetic disease that entails disability from birth. In this case, the woman is given a complete plan of action if she decides to terminate the pregnancy. The antenatal clinic is obliged to provide all necessary medical care, regardless of the long period of time.
If there is a risk of miscarriage, the gynecologist will monitor the condition of the cervical canal, the length of the cervix and the location of the placenta.
Additionally, ultrasound can easily detect oligohydramnios, as well as:
- quality of blood flow, its intensity;
- location of the umbilical cord for entanglement;
- fetal heart rate;
- fetal presentation.
With the help of a modern three-dimensional imaging system, the expectant mother can see the face of her unborn child, which always cheers up a pregnant woman.
Do I need to prepare for the study?
During the consultation, a specialist doctor determines which ultrasound will be more effective in each specific case. Having chosen the most suitable type, the doctor gives recommendations for preparation. Each method has its own specifics in preliminary activities.
During transabdominal ultrasound, both men and women generally require a full bladder to better visualize the pelvic organs. To do this, you need to refrain from going to the toilet three to four hours before the procedure or drink a liter of liquid an hour before the examination.
Transvaginal ultrasound does not require a full bladder. To maintain sterility, a condom is placed on the sensor before it is inserted into the vagina. If you have an allergy to latex, you must inform your ultrasound provider in advance.
Preparatory procedures before transrectal ultrasound examination involve cleansing the intestines with laxatives or an enema. Inserting the sensor into the rectum also involves putting a condom on it.
Features of ultrasound examination
Using an ultrasound machine, a specialist can only assess the condition of non-hollow organs, that is, those that are not empty inside. In this connection, it is necessary to provide additional consultation to patients regarding the condition of the bladder. So, if you want to examine its walls for chronic cystitis or other pathology, you need to fulfill a mandatory condition - to carry out a full urinary diagnosis, which is not very convenient for those who suffer from incontinence. In this case, urine will act as a reflection of ultrasonic rays, and the bladder will be examined.
If other organs are to be examined, the bladder should be empty so as not to block the view.
What diseases are determined using ultrasound of the female organs?
The list of pathologies that an examination can confirm or refute is very large. A specialist can evaluate several indicators at once: position, size, structure of organs, and compare the obtained indicators with normal ones.
Based on the results of the ultrasound, the doctor can state:
- polycystic disease;
- oncology (indicated by various neoplasms, thickening of organ walls);
- ovarian cysts;
- fibroids;
- endometriosis and much more.
The research data is obtained immediately (no need to wait for processing), but it must be deciphered by a qualified doctor (urologist, oncologist, gynecologist, obstetrician). The patient’s area of responsibility is proper preparation for a gynecological ultrasound, on which the correct diagnosis largely depends.
Interpretation of ultrasound OMT results
Pelvic ultrasound clearly visualizes the structure of the uterus, ovaries and appendages in women and the structure of the prostate gland and adjacent organs in men.
Based on the results of the study, the following pathologies can be identified in women:
- congenital anomalies of the uterus;
- endometriosis – growth of the endometrium outside the uterus;
- fibroids - tumor-like formations in the body of the uterus;
- ectopic pregnancy;
- presence of neoplasms;
- ovarian cysts.
Ultrasound also easily establishes the diagnosis of “small pregnancy”.
In men, ultrasound reveals neoplasms, prostate adenoma, inflammatory processes in the tissues of the prostate gland, pathologies of the seminal vesicles and ducts.
Bladder and kidney diseases can be detected in patients of both sexes.
A qualified doctor interprets the results of the ultrasound protocol. If necessary, he will prescribe other diagnostic procedures, give referrals to specialists, or independently draw up a treatment regimen.
Without ultrasound - nowhere!
The content of the article
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs is a standard examination in gynecology; without its results, the doctor will not begin treatment for severe pathologies or prescribe surgery. It would seem that everything is clear with this procedure, but we still receive many questions that we asked the doctors from the Diana Clinic to answer.
“I often have a stomach ache, so I was prescribed a pelvic ultrasound, but my grandmother says it’s harmful and I won’t have children later! Is it true?" Masha, 17 years old
The question about the harmfulness of ultrasound always surprises doctors, if only because there is nothing more harmful than an undetected disease or an incorrect diagnosis! Ultrasound research has been used in world medicine for 40 years, and during this time not a single case has been reported in which it caused a disease or complication.
The method is based on the physical law of the density of bodies: the higher the density of the fabric, the worse it transmits sound waves and the “brighter” it reflects them. The doctor directs ultrasound waves to the desired organ, they are reflected with different strengths and in different directions, the signal is sent to the sensor: the height and angle of sound output is converted into a picture - the denser the tissue, the darker it will be displayed. Thus, the doctor sees tumors, lumps, hematomas and other pathologies. In addition, the doctor observes how the organs work and the blood flow in the vessels.
In this regard, to the question of whether ultrasound can harm internal organs, the answer is: no, this is excluded.
When is it prescribed?
Ultrasound examination is actively used both for the diagnosis of various diseases and for preventive examinations. In the first case, an appointment for an ultrasound is issued if there are complaints:
- for pain in the lower abdomen and groin;
- prolonged tugging or other discomfort;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- disruptions of the menstrual cycle;
- spotting (not during menstruation);
- uncomfortable urination (accompanied by aching or acute paroxysmal pain);
- burning sensation in the urethra;
- too much (scanty) discharge during menstruation;
- the presence of blood or bloody mucus in the urine, etc.
Preventive ultrasound of the female organs is prescribed when planning pregnancy to monitor its course or progress of treatment (confirm recovery); before installing or removing an intrauterine device. An ultrasound examination is mandatory after operations on the organs of the woman’s reproductive system and during the recovery period. In addition, all women are strongly recommended to undergo preventive examinations to identify so-called female diseases at an early stage with a frequency of once every 1–2 years.
