Transvaginal pelvic ultrasonography

Abstract

The most common technique for ultrasonographic evaluation of the pelvic organs is to have the patient drink approximately six 8-ounce glasses of water an hour prior to the examination. Scanning is then routinely performed from the anterior abdominal surface, using the blader as an ultrasonic window (transabdominal). We have occasionally had difficulty with certain patients in precisely delineating pelvic structures, masses, or ovarian follicle size. A transvaginal technique has proven extremely effective with these patients, and is now commonly used in our practice. A recent report in the Japanese literature has demonstrated good correlation using transabdominal and transvaginal techniques for follicle size determination. However, to our knowledge, no description of the transvaginal technique for routine pelvic ultrasonography has appeared in the English-language literature.