4 Functions of transvaginal ultrasound for women and men

Generally, ultrasound technology is known only to check the condition of the womb. In fact, there are many types of ultrasound with their respective benefits. Well, one ultrasound that you may rarely or have never heard of is pelvic ultrasound, aka transvaginal. Following are the benefits and functions of transvaginal ultrasound.

Transvaginal ultrasound function

As the name suggests, this ultrasound does use a transducer (special tool) that is inserted into the vaginal opening. Of course this is done to determine the patient's condition.

1. Examining the female internal organs

The main function of transvaginal ultrasound is to help the medical team determine the condition of the female internal organs. Organs that can be seen and examined from this procedure include:

Vagina
Cervix
Womb
Fallopian tube
Ovaries
Bladder

So, a transducer will be inserted into the vagina to see these various organs.

2. Pregnancy examination

In general, pregnant women only perform abdominal ultrasound examinations. Ultrasound abdomina is usually to detect the sex and development of the fetus in the womb.

Well, in addition to abdominal ultrasound, the obstetrician will advise the mother to do a transvaginal ultrasound if she has certain risks. The reason is, this transvaginal ultrasound has functions such as:

Detect fetal heartbeat
Provide assurance whether pregnant or not
Determine the gestational age
Seeing the condition of the placental cord
Monitor pregnancies that have a high risk of miscarriage
Knowing abnormal bleeding in the uterus

3. Examination with certain symptoms

Apart from those mentioned above, doctors also use pelvic ultrasound to check for some symptoms that occur in internal organs or cannot be detected from the outside. Here are the symptoms:

Pelvic pain
Unexplained vaginal bleeding
Infertility or sterility

4. Examination of male internal organs

Not only for women, transvaginal ultrasound can also be done by men. Usually, doctors will recommend this procedure if there are problems or symptoms that arise in internal organs such as:

Bladder
Prostate gland
Seminal vesicles (glands that add fluid to semen)

Risks and side effects of transvaginal ultrasound

Unlike X-Ray in general, pelvic ultrasound is safer and good for pregnant women and their fetuses because they do not use radiation. Usually, transvaginal ultrasound does not pose any risks or side effects.

It's just that, maybe you will feel uncomfortable during the ultrasound process because the instrument must be inserted into the vagina. However, it will disappear once the inspection process is complete.

Transvaginal ultrasound examination results

After about 30-60 minutes of examination, you will receive the ultrasound results within a day or two of it. This transvaginal ultrasound has a function to detect various common diseases in women, such as: