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What are the clinicians looking at?
A pelvic ultrasound in females looks primarily at the uterus, ovaries and bladder. At times bowel may also be visualized when requested. For males, pelvic ultrasound looks at the bladder and prostate gland.
What is the Prep?
For a pelvic exam, you will be required to drink 1L of water (4-5 8 oz glasses) two hours before the exam. Do not urinate until after the sonographer has instructed you to do so. The full bladder provides a “window” to see pelvic organs. Once the pictures needed have been acquired, the sonographer will ask you to empty your bladder.
What will the sonographer do?
For this exam, you will be asked to lie down on a table with your pelvis and lower abdomen uncovered. An odourless and water-soluble gel will be put on your skin by the sonographer. This gel helps to transmit the sound waves and allows easy movement of probe or transducer over the skin. As the probe glides, pictures are taken of the pelvic organs. The sonographer will leave the room once all images are complete. You will be directed to a change room after which you will be free to leave.
For many female patients in addition to the regular transabdominal pelvic ultrasound, a trans-vaginal ultrasound is required to obtain more detailed images of the ovaries and uterus. The trans-vaginal portion of the exam is completed with an empty bladder.
Transvaginal Ultrasound
This exam is ordered for females to examine pelvic structures, such as ovaries and uterus, in more detail. This exam is performed by inserting a narrow probe or transducer into the vagina with your bladder empty. This allows the sonographer to visualize your uterus and ovaries in close magnified proximity because the distance to the probe sound waves is shorter. Therefore, higher resolution images can be obtained especially when assessing the inside of the uterus (i.e. the endometrial lining and early pregnancies).
Procedure for a Transvaginal Ultrasound
For this exam, you will be asked to empty your bladder. During the exam you will be supine on a table completely covered. A non-latex sterile cover is applied over the probe and lubrication gel is used for easier insertion technique.
This exam takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
Does this exam hurt?
This procedure should not hurt but may be uncomfortable. Any pain during the exam should be brought to the attention of the sonographer immediately so that modified positioning can be considered or the exam halted and probe removed.
Why do I have to drink water if a Transvaginal exam only has been ordered?
The transabdominal ultrasound (on top of the abdomen) allows visualization of the entire pelvis or the whole picture. The trans-vaginal exam is up close and the field of view narrowed to magnify certain pelvis structures. Therefore, one exam cannot substitute for the other. Rather they work together to give the larger picture so that your diagnoses can be as specific as possible.
Who can order a diagnostic exam?
A physician, registered nurse practitioner in the extended class, dentist, chiropractor, designated chiropodist or an osteopath can order an x-ray or ultrasound. A registered nurse may complete the order implementing a medical directive. In this case, the RN completes the requisition form, includes his or her signature, the name of the physician responsible for the care of the patient and reference to the specific medical directive.
Can I refuse an ultrasound examination?
Yes. If you do, please inform the physician who has ordered the exam, as it may determine the course of your treatment.
When will I get the results?
If the exam is of an urgent nature, a verbal report will be called in right away. The final report is faxed to your doctor within 24-48 hours.
Why does StL Diagnostic Phone “Verbals” instead of just faxing the report?
At StL, “Verbals” mean your examination has been flagged in our system as urgent. It is our protocol to communicate significant medical findings (positive verbal) to the RN or physician who is managing your care. As soon as the images are interpreted by our radiologist, urgent medical results are entered into our reporting queue and a person from our team calls directly. This significantly improves the timing and quality of patient care. The radiology report is generated and faxed within 24 hours.