Preparing for an Intravaginal Ultrasound

Ultrasounds, known as sonograms, serve diagnostic purposes and offer a noninvasive means for your doctor to visualize your internal structures and organs. Intravaginal ultrasound (also called transvaginal ultrasound) is particularly useful when your doctor needs to gather information about your reproductive or gynecological health.

Grasping the Concept of Intravaginal Ultrasound Intravaginal ultrasound is employed to visualize the organs within your pelvic area. It aids in diagnosing gynecological conditions (such as pelvic pain and unusual bleeding) or observing the early stages of pregnancy.

Determine if you require an intravaginal ultrasound. These ultrasounds are necessary when your doctor needs a closer examination of your reproductive organs, such as the cervix, ovaries, and uterus. It can also be used during pregnancy to monitor the progress of your pregnancy and the fetus.

Schedule your appointment. The timing of the procedure depends on the purpose for which it is needed.

• If the ultrasound is during pregnancy, it can be done as early as 6 weeks after conception, but typically between 8 and 12 weeks.
• If it's to diagnose pain or bleeding, the procedure is usually scheduled promptly.
• For infertility issues, it may coincide with ovulation.
• During your menstrual cycle, it's best to schedule it after your period ends, between days 5 and 12, when the uterine lining is thinnest for clearer images.

Maintain personal hygiene before leaving home. Take a shower or bath before heading out for your intravaginal ultrasound.

• If you're menstruating and using a tampon, remove it before the procedure. Bring an extra tampon or pad for afterward.

Choose comfortable, easy-to-remove clothing. Since you'll wear a hospital gown, opt for comfortable attire.

• Wear shoes easy to take off as clothing from the waist down must be removed.
• Consider separates instead of a dress to keep clothing from the waist up.

Consult your doctor about bladder emptying. Typically, you should have an empty bladder for the procedure. Visit the restroom just before the ultrasound and refrain from drinking anything for 30 minutes prior to your intravaginal ultrasound.

• In some cases, your doctor may perform a transabdominal ultrasound first, preferring a partially full bladder as it aids in lifting the intestines for clearer visualization of the pelvic organs.
• If instructed to have a partially filled bladder, drink water before the ultrasound and avoid using the restroom.
• Start drinking water half an hour before your ultrasound appointment.
• You may be asked to empty your bladder before the intravaginal ultrasound.

Complete any necessary paperwork. Upon arrival at the hospital or clinic, you'll need to sign a consent form indicating your agreement for the intravaginal ultrasound.

• Inform your doctor of any latex allergies, as the transducer is covered with a latex or plastic sheath before insertion into the vagina.

Put on the provided gown. Upon entering a dressing room or the ultrasound room, disrobe and don the hospital gown.

• In some cases, you may only need to undress from the waist down, in which case, a sheet will be provided for cover during the procedure.

Lie down on the examination bed. After disrobing, recline on the examination table. Intravaginal ultrasounds are conducted with you lying on your back, similar to a routine gynecological exam.

• Bend your knees and position the soles of your feet flat on the stirrups attached to the examination table, providing your doctor with optimal access to your vagina.

Permit your doctor to insert the transducer. Prior to insertion, your doctor covers the transducer with a plastic or latex sheet and applies gel for smoother insertion.

• The transducer is gently inserted into your vagina to initiate imaging.
• Slightly larger than a tampon, the transducer is designed for comfortable insertion.

Understand what happens during the procedure. Your doctor positions the transducer within your vagina and may adjust it slightly to capture clear images of your pelvic organs.

• Connected to a computer, the transducer produces images of your pelvic organs on a screen. Your doctor monitors the screen throughout the procedure to ensure detailed visualization. Pictures and/or live video may also be captured.
• If the ultrasound is for fetal monitoring, your doctor typically provides printed pictures.

Clean up and dress again. Intravaginal ultrasounds typically last no more than 15 minutes. After the procedure, when the transducer is removed, you are given privacy to dress.

• Towels are provided to wipe off any remaining gel from your inner thighs and/or pelvic area.
• You may want to visit the restroom to clean excess lubricant from your vagina and insert a new tampon.

Inquire about the findings. If your primary doctor conducts the ultrasound, she may discuss initial findings as they appear on the screen. If referred to another clinic, you typically await your primary doctor to receive a written report of the results.

• Results are conveyed based on the complexity and urgency of your condition. For exploratory ultrasounds, expect results in a few days to a week.

• If you're undergoing your first pelvic exam or you're quite young, a transvaginal ultrasound might be perceived as invasive. Consult your doctor about a transabdominal pelvic ultrasound scan – it provides similar but less detailed images with a full bladder.