![]() But if this is your first pregnancy, how can you gauge your risk for preterm delivery? Previously having a preterm birth is the biggest risk factor for delivering early again. Outside of pregnancy, the uterus is usually too small for an abdominal ultrasound to properly examine, Green says, so a transvaginal ultrasound is often the best way to search for abnormalities of pelvic organs.Delivering your baby early is a scary thought. 12 percent of all births in the United States are considered preterm (delivering before 37 weeks of pregnancy), and for the families involved it can mean significant additional anxiety and expense. If your provider notices something unusual during your annual pelvic exam, they may order a transvaginal ultrasound to get a better look at your pelvic organs, Gaither says. If you are experiencing pelvic pain or abnormal bleeding, a doctor may order a transvaginal ultrasound as one of the first steps toward diagnosing certain conditions, like: Because a transvaginal ultrasound is able to provide more detailed images than an abdominal ultrasound, it may also be used later in pregnancy to measure the cervix, evaluate patients for preterm labor, check the location of the placenta, or screen an early fetus for genetic conditions, Green says. Before about 10 weeks, a transvaginal ultrasound is used to confirm a pregnancy that is too early to be seen with an abdominal ultrasound. Most pregnancies aren't visible with an abdominal ultrasound until about 8 to 10 weeks gestation, Green says. There are a few reasons why a doctor might order a transvaginal ultrasound including: Without insurance a transvaginal ultrasound can cost up to $600, Prabakar says.Ī transvaginal ultrasound bounces sound waves off internal organs to project images of what is going on inside your body. The amount you may pay for a transvaginal ultrasound depends on your insurance plan and the type of coverage you have. What's the cost? The procedure is typically covered by insurance, Gaither says. ![]() You may meet with a doctor right after the ultrasound to go over the results, or it may take a couple of days, depending on why the ultrasound was ordered and when a doctor or radiologist can review it, Prabakar says. Images from the ultrasound are available in real-time, but will need to be interpreted by a physician or radiologist before you receive results, says Cheruba Prabakar, MD, an OB-GYN with Stanford Healthcare. The procedure takes about 15 to 30 minutes though this can vary depending on what kind of information the technician is trying to capture and which organs they are targeting, Gaither says.įor example, it may take more time to locate ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids than it would to confirm a pregnancy. Like with a pelvic exam, you'll be asked to lie on your back with your feet in stirrups. The technician will lubricate the probe to decrease discomfort and then gently insert it and move the probe around in a circular motion to capture images of pelvic organs including the: The exam is often done by a sonography technician, Green says. "The most important thing to do is to stay relaxed," Green says. "The probe is inserted up to the cervix and it is generally not painful, but may be a little uncomfortable," Green says, adding that most patients tend to find it less uncomfortable than a typical pelvic exam or pap smear since the ultrasound probe is smaller than a speculum. During a transvaginal ultrasound, a long, slender, wand-shaped probe connected to a computer is inserted about three to four inches inside the vagina, says Kecia Gaither, MD, an OB-GYN and director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |