What a Pelvic Ultrasound Reveals About Your Health

If you’re pregnant, are having fertility problems, have a concern with a pelvic organ, or are experiencing pelvic pain, a pelvic ultrasound is a way to check for issues and identify any problems.

At NY Midtown OB/GYN locations in the Midtown area of Manhattan, Westchester, and Mamaroneck, New York, our team of experienced women’s reproductive health professionals provide ultrasounds of different types for a variety of reasons. Here’s what we can learn from a pelvic ultrasound.

How ultrasounds work

Ultrasounds use high frequency sound waves to create a visual picture of soft tissues inside your body. Also called sonography, ultrasounds are performed with a handheld device called a transducer, which sends sound waves into the body and receives echoes back in the form of electrical signals. 

These electrical signals are transmitted to a scanner that interprets them and turns them into pictures of what the inside of your body looks like. When it comes to pelvic ultrasounds, there are two main types of approach.

Types of pelvic ultrasounds

A standard pelvic ultrasound uses a transducer that is covered with gel and pressed against your gel covered skin. As it’s moved across your pelvic region, images show up on the scanner. Your technician can measure the size of organs and determine if they are normal.

A transvaginal ultrasound is usually reserved for cases when your reproductive organs or an early pregnancy are involved and your doctor wants better imaging. The transducer is inserted gently into the vagina during this type of ultrasound.

There is a lot we can learn about your health via either type of ultrasound.

What pelvic ultrasounds reveal about your health

A pelvic ultrasound lets your doctor explore what’s within your pelvic region without having to surgically open your abdomen. Some of the things we can do with ultrasound include:

Look for abnormalities in your uterine structure, such as:

• Fibroids (myomas)
• Tumors or other masses

Do intrauterine contraceptive device checks to confirm:

• The presence of an IUD
• Its position and any potential problems

Survey your pelvic area for signs of: 

• Ovarian cysts 
• Ruptured ovarian cysts

Look for causes of:

• Postmenopausal bleeding
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Chronic pelvic pain and cramping

Help with in vitro fertilization by:

• Monitoring ovarian follicle size 
• Visualizing aspiration of follicle fluid and eggs from ovaries  

Monitoring pregnancies to:

• Identify serious issues like an ectopic pregnancy or placenta previa
• Keep track of fetal development
• Assess certain fetal conditions

Our experienced technicians and gynecologists walk you through what to expect during every step of your procedure. 

Do you think you may need a pelvic ultrasound? To learn more, schedule an appointment at NY Midtown OB/GYN by calling 646-292-3030 or booking an appointment online.