What Is a Transvaginal Ultrasound?

A transvaginal ultrasound, also known as an endovaginal ultrasound, is a pelvic ultrasound that allows the medical professional to look at a woman's reproductive organs through her vagina instead of through the abdominal skin. It is usually painless.

Use

• A endovaginal ultrasound is done to check for ovarian masses and cysts. It also can be used to look for pelvic infection and fibroids. If done on pregnant women, it can see ectopic pregnancies and monitor fetal growth.

Preparation

• You need to undress from the waist down and lie down with your feet in stirrups. Your bladder needs to be empty.

Procedure

• A probe called a transducer will be covered with a gel and placed inside the vagina. The sound waves from the probe will be read by a computer to form pictures. The person conducting the exam will move the probe around to look at your reproductive organs and then remove the probe.

Normal Results

• Normal value ranges are different depending on who is doing the test. Mainly, pelvic and fetus structures need to be normal in order to get a normal result.

Abnormal Results

• Some abnormalities that could be identified include cancer, infection, cysts, fibroids and some birth defects (if the woman is pregnant). The test also could find placenta previa or placental abruption.

Facts

• There is no radiation with a transvaginal ultrasound, so there is no risk of fetal radiation or risks to the mother. There are no known risks to this procedure.