If you wish to have a pelvic exam or know the health status of your unborn baby, your specialist might recommend an ultrasound. There are two main types of Las Vegas ultrasounds, varying in their techniques and significance. Your specialist may recommend one type over the other, depending on your condition.
What is an ultrasound?
An ultrasound is a painless technique or test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your internal organs and unborn child. Your healthcare provider uses a special gel and device called a transducer to send sound waves into your body. When the sound waves reach your organs, they bounce back to the transducer.
Then, the transducer sends the information to a computer screen in the form of high-quality images.
Types of ultrasounds
The following are the two main types of ultrasounds that your specialist might use for your evaluation.
Transabdominal ultrasounds
Transabdominal ultrasounds are conducted through your abdominal muscles. Your specialist applies a special gel on your abdomen and glides a transducer on your stomach to capture desired images. The transducer glides on your abdomen effortlessly because the gel helps sound waves travel through your skin.
Transvaginal ultrasounds
In a transvaginal ultrasound, your specialist inserts the transducer into your vagina to capture images. This type of ultrasound produces the best quality pictures because the sound waves do not travel through the skin or muscles.
Your specialist might instruct you on preparing for either of the ultrasounds. Usually, your provider can tell you to drink water to have a full bladder during the ultrasound. That said, they will let you know how much water to drink before the ultrasound. You can use the bathroom after an ultrasound and relieve yourself.
The significance of ultrasounds
One of the primary reasons your healthcare provider might recommend an ultrasound is to check on your health and that of your unborn baby. That is why ultrasounds are important during your pregnancy and to diagnose certain reproductive problems you might experience.
During pregnancy, the benefits of ultrasound include checking for an ectopic pregnancy, multiple births, and estimating the due date. Your gynecologist checks the above during the first trimester. In the second trimester, your specialist checks your baby’s health and the amount of amniotic fluid present.
If you seek an ultrasound to examine your pelvic organs, it is usually referred to as a diagnostic ultrasound. Specialists use this type of ultrasound to diagnose various gynecological issues, including the following:
- Pelvic pain
- Abnormal bleeding
- Uterine fibroids
- Ovarian cysts
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
Are ultrasounds safe?
If you are worried about having an ultrasound done, worry not. Since ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves, they are safe for you and your unborn child. You might need to reconsider if the procedure uses radiation.
Whether you want to check on your pregnancy’s progress or have a pelvic exam, visit the office of Darin Swainston, MD, FACOG, for an ultrasound. You will meet a qualified and experienced team ready to offer personalized treatment. Call or book an appointment online today.
