Everything you need to know about vaginal ultrasound

What is a vaginal ultrasound?

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images of the body's internal organs. Such tests help detect any problems and make diagnoses more accessible to doctors. A vaginal ultrasound is an internal examination performed using a probe that is inserted through the vagina after covering it with a condom and a medical lubricant for easy entry. Doctors use this type of ultrasound to examine the uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, vagina, and ovaries.

When is a vaginal ultrasound performed?

There are several reasons why a doctor may perform an internal ultrasound examination. The most common of these are:

• Having unexplained vaginal bleeding.
• When the abdominal ultrasound result is abnormal.
• To detect a retroverted uterus.
• When there is a complaint of pain in the abdomen and pelvis.
• In case of ectopic pregnancy.
• During fertility treatments and the egg retrieval stage, or implantation of fertilized eggs.
• To detect ovarian cysts.
• When there are fertility issues.
• Diagnosis of endometriosis.
• To check for uterine fibroids.
• To ensure that the IUD is in the right place.

Is vaginal ultrasound performed during pregnancy?

A pregnant woman may undergo this test, which is considered safe and does not cause miscarriage for several reasons, the most important of which are:

• Confirming the presence of pregnancy in the early stages, as the fetal heartbeat can be detected in the first weeks of pregnancy.
• Checking for twin or multiple pregnancies.
• Reveal the location and size of the fetus.
• Detecting an ectopic pregnancy.
• Monitoring the fetal growth.
• Diagnosing the cause of spotting.
• Detecting the possibility of miscarriage.
• Cervical length measurement is usually done in the middle of pregnancy to ensure that the length of the cervix is ​​normal. A short cervix increases the likelihood of premature labor. If the cervix is ​​short, the doctor will take preventive measures to avoid premature birth.
• Examine the placenta and make sure there are no problems.
• Determine pregnancy weeks more accurately.
• Monitoring fetal heart rate.
• To obtain accurate and detailed images of the cervix, placenta, fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries and ensure the safety of these organs during pregnancy.
• Detecting the possibility of premature birth.

Benefits

The most important benefit of performing a vaginal ultrasound is to obtain a more accurate diagnosis through clear and detailed images of the pelvic area and its organs, especially the female reproductive system. Another benefit is early pregnancy detection, especially if the home pregnancy test does not give precise results.

Risks

This examination is considered safe, especially during pregnancy, as it poses no risk to the mother or the fetus. The examination does not require rest, and usually, there are no side effects after the examination, so you can return home and drive your car without any problems. However, some precautions must be considered to ensure the safety of the mother and the fetus. This examination should not be performed in the following cases:

• If the water breaks.
• Vaginal bleeding due to placenta previa.
• If the woman is allergic to latex, the probe is covered with a latex condom. If there is an allergy, the doctor may use a latex-free condom.

Results

Ultrasound is usually done in your doctor's or gynecologist's office. Your doctor can tell you the results right away. If an ultrasound technician does the test, they usually aren't qualified to give you the results. They can do the test and send it to your doctor, who discusses the result with the patient after a day or two at most.

To sum up,

Vaginal ultrasound is an internal examination performed using a vaginal probe and ultrasound waves. It is entirely free of any radiation, so it is safe during pregnancy and does not pose a risk to the fetus. The examination may be uncomfortable, but it does not cause significant complications. The result usually appears immediately. It is the most accurate and safest test, especially during pregnancy. It diagnoses several problems that may affect the uterus and other reproductive organs. It is also used during fertility treatments and to ensure the health of the pregnancy and the fetus. If you have any concerns about undergoing this test, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor to get your information from a reliable source.