Ultrasound Pelvis

A pelvic ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of the organs and structures in the lower belly (pelvis). 

A pelvic ultrasound may be done to investigate:

• Cause of blood in the urine (hematuria),
• Determine if there are any urinary problems by looking at the size of the bladder before and after urination,
• determining if the bladder is emptying completely,
• Investigate growths in the pelvis
• Guide the placement of a needle when a biopsy is needed 
• Guide the placement of a needle when draining the fluid.
• appendicitis

The pelvic ultrasound can also be more specific relating to male or female.

The ultrasound of the pelvis in females may be done for:

• Pelvic pain ,
• Vaginal bleeding.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID),
• Locate a intrauterine device (IUD),
• Examine size and shape of the ovaries, uterus and the thickness of the uterine lining (endometrium),
• Infertility treatment -investigate the condition and size of the ovaries,
• Confirm a pregnancy and whether it is in the uterus,
• Examine the cervical length in a pregnant woman at risk for preterm labour,
• Investigate lump found during a pelvic examination,
• Check uterine fibroids found during a pelvic examination,
• Guide a procedure to remove an ovarian follicle for in vitro fertilization,

 A pelvic ultrasound may be performed on men to:

• Examine at the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland,
• Check for prostate cancer,
• Investigation of urinary problems -benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH),
• Infertility
• problem with the prostate gland,

You must:

1. Drink 1 litre of water 1 hour prior to your scan.
2. DO NOT empty bladder until the sonographer asked you to.
   

An ultrasound of the pelvis can be done several  ways:

1. Transabdominal ultrasound with a full bladder. A small handheld device called a transducer is passed back and forth over the lower belly. A transabdominal ultrasound is commonly done in women to look for large uterine fibroids or other problems.
2. Transrectal ultrasound. The transducer is shaped to fit into the rectum. A transrectal ultrasound is the most common test to look at the male pelvic organs, such as the prostate and seminal vesicles. Diagnostic rectal ultrasound examinations of the prostate are not generally offered at Liverpool Hospital, NB Rectal scanning with insertion of Gold Seeds is performed in the Interventional section of the Radiology Department for cancer patients.
3. Transvaginal ultrasound (with empty bladder). The transducer is shaped to fit into a woman's vagina. A woman may have both transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasounds to look at the whole pelvic area.
4. Sonohysterography can be performed by appointment. This involves vaginal scanning and the insertion of fluid into the uterus to best define endometrial problems and other problems associated with the shape of the uterine cavity. It is a common fertility test. Only 1 specialist in our area health service does this test in Radiology, he works at both Liverpool and Campbelltown, so the test cannot be done everywhere every day.

NEITHER transabdominal nor transvaginal scanning are “better” than the other. They are complementary techniques which see different body parts to different advantage. We always start with Full Bladder Transabdominal scanning. This is best practice.

The specialised doctor will carefully analyse your images and make a report to your referring doctor. If the referring doctor is in the hospital they will be able to access the results on the computer. If they are not then the clerks will be able to burn the results on a disc.