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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Yong Moma | Posted under Pregnancy
What Is A Pelvic Ultrasound?
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There are many uses for an ultrasound. An ultrasound image is real time so it can show the movement of organs, tissue, and trace the flow of blood through the veins and arteries. In a man it is used to examine the prostate gland and bladder. In both men and women it is used to find tumors and growths. Many think that the main reason for use is to monitor the development of the fetus but actually it is used as a tool for many female problems. It is used to find the cause of abnormal bleeding related to menses, pelvic pain, to look for masses such as uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts. It is also used to identify uterine and ovarian cancer. A newer procedure called a hysterosnography uses a sterile saline solution which is injected into the uterus and then a transvaginal sonogram is done. The reason for doing this is distend the endometrial cavity or uttering cavity to find cancer, fibroids, or polyps. It can also be used to evaluate the uterine for anomalies. The saline provides an outline of any polyps, tumors, or growths which makes it easy to see them and measure them. It can also be used when treating or dealing with infertility. Preparing for this test is very simple. You just need to wear loose comfy clothing and you may not have to change into a gown if the technician can access the area. You will need to drink about 6 glasses of water 2 hours before your procedure so that the bladder is full for the scan. When the bladder is full it puts pressure on other organs and makes the images of the uterus, bladder, and ovaries much clearer. The equipment is made up of the computer system and a transducer which is a hand held device that looks a lot like a microphone. A gel is spread over the abdomen in the area that is to be examined such as the ovaries or uterus. This gel works as a conducting material to make the images clearer. The transducer is then run over the skin with a degree of pressure you will feel but that won't hurt. Instantly you see the image on the computer screen. The technician watches the screen during the exam and then stores the images so that the radiologist and physician can review them later. You can also see the monitor which if you are pregnant can be a real treat seeing your baby. So how does the technology work? It's based on the same principle as the sonar used on ships where sound waves are bounced off an object and the reflective waves are used to identify objects. In the case of a ship the images bounced back are those of the rocky bottom of the ocean or sea. In the case of medical use the images bounced back are of growths, fetuses, or even blood moving through the arteries. The transducer sends a high frequency sound wave into the body and it is echoed back from the tissue and fluids. If Doppler is being used then small changes in the pitch and direction of the sound wave are recorded and then recorded and saved on the computer which instantly displays them. Ultrasound images are live and can be saved to the system. It is the technician's job to save the good images which can later be reviewed. There area actually three methods of performing a pelvic ultrasound - they include transabdominal used on both men and women, transvaginal use on women, and transrectal used on men. Each method relies on the bouncing of the sound waves. The transabdominal is done by having you lay on your back and then a gel is applied to your lower abdomen which helps the transducer make compact and make better images. The transducer is then rubbed across the abdomen area. The transvaginal procedure is much like an gynecological examination. Your bladder needs to be empty, and then a transducer is inserted into the vagina. The transducer is smaller than the speculum used for a Pap test. It is lubricated with a small amount of gel before being inserted two to three inches. This method gives the best view of the ovaries and uterus. The transrectal is used to exam the prostate gland which is located in front of the rectum. The transducer has a protective cover put on it and then lubrication is applied before it is inserted into the rectum. The ultrasound will be able to provide the best view of the prostate gland and if lesions are found a biopsy will be performed. A pelvic ultrasound is painless and it's a powerful tool. A radiologist will examine the pictures and report his or her findings to your doctor who will then determine what needs to be done. About The Author: Yong has been working for a leading ultrasound manufacturer for last 8 years. At At http://www.ultrasoundlive.com he has provide information about different types of utlrassound equipments. Visit the website to get more information about ultrasound equipment and accessories. |
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