Ultrasound of the small pelvis is done to determine the cause of the bleeding started, abdominal pain, menstrual irregularities, and to establish or deny the fact of pregnancy, and in the future to control the development of the fetus. Thus, it is possible to diagnose diseases of the female genitourinary system at the earliest stages, which allows taking appropriate measures in time.
How are ultrasound of the pelvis performed in women?
Depending on the purpose of the examination and the general condition of the patient, the doctor can prescribe transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
Thus, vaginal examination is indicated for women with vaginal bleeding of unclear etiology, with suspicions of ectopic pregnancy or other gynecological problems that require detailed examination. In addition, the transvaginal technique is much more effective if you need to examine the pelvic organs of women with excess weight or with poor bowel perelstatics and increased gas production. The procedure for this procedure is quite simple: a special sensor is inserted into the vagina, from which the image of the internal organs is read and displayed on the monitor. According to the received pictures and video the doctor assesses the condition of the uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and makes a conclusion.
Transabdominal ultrasound is done with the help of a sensor, which is driven along the stomach. Preliminary on the abdominal cavity a special gel is applied, which improves the conductivity.
Preparation for ultrasound of pelvic organs
If a patient is assigned a transabdominal ultrasound, then an hour before the procedure, she needs to drink about 1 liter of water in order to fill the bladder. Full urinary allows you to get a clearer image, as it pushes out the intestine filled with air, which prevents the spread of ultrasonic waves. In emergency cases, the bladder is filled through the catheter. More modern equipment allows you to examine the organs of the small pelvis of a woman and without filling. Also, a few days before the expected date of the study, it is recommended to abandon products that increase gas formation in the intestine, and immediately before the procedure to empty it.
Transvaginal ultrasound of pelvic organs, as a rule, do without preliminary preparation. The only thing that is required of the patient in this case is to empty the urinary and intestines.
Decoding ultrasound of the pelvic organs
Based on the results of ultrasound, conclusions are drawn about the state of the organs of the genitourinary system. This takes into account the day of the menstrual cycle and the patient's complaints.
So, the verdict of a healthy woman of reproductive age, looks like this:
- Uterus. It is diverted anteriorly, its contours are even and clear, which indicates the absence of fibroids or a tumor. The echogenicity of the walls is uniform. The thickness and structure of the mucous membrane varies, depending on the age of the woman and the phase of the menstrual cycle. As a rule, the thickness of the endometrium reaches its maximum after ovulation and is rejected during menstruation.
The structure of the uterine cavity should also be uniform, otherwise endometritis can be expected . - Cervix. The length of the cervix is indicative, in norm it is about 40 mm. The diameter of the channel should be 2-3 mm, and the ehostruktura - homogeneous.
- Ovaries. Because of the growing follicles, the contours of the ovaries are uneven, but necessarily clear, the ehostruktura - homogeneous. The width, length and thickness of a healthy appendage is 25 mm, 30 mm, 15 mm, respectively. Normally, in the middle of the cycle one of them can be found: a large dominant follicle in which the egg ripens, and a few small ones.