Ultrasound is an important aspect when it comes to monitoring a healthy pregnancy. Your local gynaecologist will suggest you different types of ultrasounds in different pregnancy trimesters to investigate the healthy growth of your fetus. One such significant ultrasound that you might have to undergo during your pregnancy is transvaginal ultrasound, and your doctor recommends it.
In This Article
What Is A Transvaginal Scan?
Just like the name itself, it is conducted through the vagina, and it is a painless process. It is safe and effective, and the most advanced technology to scan images of your baby and your reproductive organs. It is a non-invasive method as it just required inserting the thin and long transducer into the vagina. It is widely used to measure the significant body parts of the fetus, including the head, the heart, the kidneys, the liver, and spinal cord.
Before conducting the transvaginal scan, a long transducer is covered in latex, and a conducting gel is applied to it. There is a microphone in the scanner which sends the high-frequency sound waves to generate scans of the fetus. These waves are thrown into the vagina, and then they are reflected from the microphone creating the most advanced images on the screen. The transvaginal scan is also called transvaginal sonography, pelvic sonography, gynecologic ultrasound, endovaginal ultrasound, and transvaginal ultrasound.
Purpose of Transvaginal Ultrasound
The primary use of transvaginal ultrasound is to monitor the growth of the fetus in a woman’s uterus. Besides, it is also helpful to monitor the health of reproductive organs like the womb, fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, and others. It is the most iconic way to detect problems or any abnormalities into the fetus. It is the advanced way to find defects in the fetus which can be managed early if caught early. The primary goal behind the transvaginal ultrasound is to detect any complications in the pregnancy. Your doctor will determine the best time for this scan. Besides, the transvaginal scan can help you to monitor the below aspects of your pregnancy.
- Monitor the development of the fetus and identify any issue
- Check the pelvic infection
- Check for complications like ectopic pregnancy
- Check for cysts or any abnormalities
- Identify the problems with the dysfunction uterus
- Diagnose the difficulties with the premature delivery
- Diagnose the possibilities of miscarriage
On Which Stages Of Pregnancy, Transvaginal Scan is Done?
Generally, the transvaginal scan is done in the first trimester of pregnancy when the regular ultrasound fails to conduct the accuracy. With the conventional ultrasound, the accuracy of the pregnancy cannot be determined correctly. Thus, the transvaginal scan is done to confirm the pregnancy and to check the presence of cardiac activity in the fetus. Your doctor will suggest you conduct the transvaginal ultrasound at the 10th and 14th weeks when the regular ultrasound cannot be done.
How To Prepare Before You Go For The Ultrasound
It is necessary to know how the entire process works to keep yourself mentally prepared. The ultrasound technician will explain to you the whole process, so all you need is to relax and understand the step-by-step process. You should clear your doubts before the scan without any hesitation. Here are a few points that you should consider before going for the transvaginal ultrasound.
- It is a simple, non-invasive, and painless process.
- Let eh ultrasound technician know about your allergies in case you have any.
- This scan will be conducted by inserting the transducer only with your consent.
Transvaginal Ultrasound Procedure
If your gynaecologist recommends you for a transvaginal ultrasound, then the first thing that you should do is to book an appointment to the ultrasound clinic.
- It will take a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 60 minutes to finish the scan.
- You might be asked to remove any jewelry or accessories that might interrupt the process.
- You might be asked to empty your bladder before the process.
- There will be a female nurse who will help you to assist if a male is performing the scan.
- You might be wearing the clinic’s gown.
- Then a thin and long transducer will be inserted to your vagina, which is covered with latex and gel for smooth working.
- You might feel a little discomfort as the transducer could be slightly turned to get better images of your pelvic area.
- The ultrasound technician might ask you about your health, pregnancy, medications, previous surgeries, previous pregnancies, and other symptoms.
- The results of the ultrasound can be collected at that time only, and you can show it to your doctors immediately for further assessment.
Conclusion
Although the transvaginal ultrasound is very safe, there are few risks associated with the process. In some cases, with sensitivity to latex, gastro issues, severe obesity, and filled bladder, the results could not be possible. You must need to inform your doctor about the problems before conducting the scan. This process will provide a lot of information about your baby’s health, which is essential for a healthy pregnancy.
