What does a pelvic ultrasound look for?

A pelvic ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of pelvic organs (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, etc.) to find causes of pain, bleeding, infertility, or urinary issues, revealing size, shape, masses (cysts, fibroids, tumors), fluid, and pregnancy status (including ectopic pregnancies). It helps diagnose infections (PID), check IUD placement, monitor fetal growth, guide procedures like egg retrieval, and assess organ health in both women and men (prostate).

What abnormalities can be detected on a pelvic ultrasound?

A pelvic ultrasound detects abnormalities in reproductive organs (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes) and the bladder, revealing issues like ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps, PID, structural problems, cancers (ovarian, uterine), endometriosis, and helps diagnose ectopic pregnancy, infertility causes, or monitor pregnancy/IUD placement, showing growths, inflammation, fluid, or structural issues.
 

What cancers can a pelvic ultrasound detect?

A pelvic ultrasound can detect potential signs of cancers in pelvic organs like the ovaries, uterus (womb), fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum, spotting abnormalities, masses, or thickened tissues that might suggest malignancies, but it's usually a first step, not a definitive diagnosis, requiring further tests like biopsies. It's particularly useful for identifying issues in reproductive organs, showing suspicious features like irregular masses, increased blood flow, or fluid, helping differentiate benign from potentially cancerous growths, say researchers at Macmillan Cancer Support and Not These Ovaries.
 

What is checked during a pelvic ultrasound?

A pelvic ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of pelvic organs (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, etc.) to find causes of pain, bleeding, infertility, or urinary issues, revealing size, shape, masses (cysts, fibroids, tumors), fluid, and pregnancy status (including ectopic pregnancies). It helps diagnose infections (PID), check IUD placement, monitor fetal growth, guide procedures like egg retrieval, and assess organ health in both women and men (prostate).
 

How long does a full pelvic ultrasound take?

How long does the test take? A pelvic ultrasound can take 15 to 30 minutes.

What to Expect From a Female Pelvic Ultrasound Exam

Why would a doctor order a pelvic ultrasound?

Doctors order pelvic ultrasounds to investigate symptoms like pain, abnormal bleeding, or infertility, and to diagnose conditions affecting reproductive organs (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes) or the bladder, such as cysts, fibroids, tumors, endometriosis, or ectopic pregnancies, also checking IUD placement and monitoring fetal development during pregnancy. It provides detailed images of pelvic organs and structures using sound waves, helping identify the cause of issues.
 

Will I get pelvic ultrasound results straight away?

You usually don't get immediate, final results from a pelvic ultrasound, as a specialist radiologist needs to review the images and write a detailed report, but preliminary findings might be shared the same day, with full results typically arriving for your doctor within 24 hours to a few days, and then your doctor calls you within a week or so to discuss them. Urgent issues can sometimes get same-day reports, while general waiting can range from days to a couple of weeks. 

How uncomfortable is a pelvic ultrasound?

A pelvic ultrasound is generally not painful, but it can cause mild discomfort or pressure, especially during a transvaginal ultrasound (internal) when the probe is inserted and moved. Abdominal (external) pelvic ultrasounds are usually painless, with only some pressure from the gel and transducer. The discomfort is temporary, usually lasting the 15-30 minute exam duration, and any significant pain should be reported to the technician.
 

What organs are seen in a pelvic ultrasound?

The pelvic cavity (the true pelvis) predominantly contains the urinary bladder, the colon, and the internal reproductive organs. This space is enclosed between the pelvic inlet and the pelvic outlet.

What problems can be detected by ultrasound?

Ultrasound is used for many reasons, including to:

• View the uterus and ovaries during pregnancy and monitor the developing baby's health.
• Diagnose gallbladder disease.
• Evaluate blood flow.
• Guide a needle for biopsy or tumor treatment.
• Examine a breast lump.
• Check the thyroid gland.
• Find genital and prostate problems.

What happens if they find something on ultrasound?

If the ultrasound finds something unusual, you might be asked to have further checks, such as blood tests or a CT scan. If everything looks normal, your doctor will talk through the next steps based on your symptoms and medical history.

What are the risks of a pelvic ultrasound?

A pelvic ultrasound is extremely safe, with no known harmful risks or side effects for patients because it uses sound waves, not radiation, making it ideal for all ages, including pregnancy. Minor, temporary discomfort might occur with transvaginal or transrectal probes, and a slight infection risk exists with internal probes, especially if latex-allergic, but generally, it's non-invasive and complication-free, requiring no recovery time.
 

What do red and blue spots on a pelvic ultrasound mean?

On a pelvic ultrasound, red and blue colors show blood flow direction using Doppler technology: red typically means blood moving towards the probe (like arteries), and blue means blood moving away from the probe (like veins), with brighter shades indicating faster flow, helping doctors assess circulation in organs like the uterus or ovaries. The color bar is key, as these assignments can sometimes be flipped, but they always show direction, not oxygen levels.
 

How long do ultrasound results take if something is wrong?

If something is wrong on an ultrasound, you might get preliminary verbal results immediately or within hours from the technician/radiologist, but the detailed report to your doctor usually takes 24 hours to a few days (2-3 days) for urgent/standard cases, though it can stretch to a week or more depending on urgency, complexity (requiring second reads or more tests like MRI/CT), and facility backlog; in emergencies, results can be expedited. 

Can a pelvic ultrasound detect bowel issues?

Careful attention to the bowel when performing a pelvic US may allow the sonographer to diagnose GI pelvic diseases such as appendicitis, diverticulitis, colitis, bowel obstruction, mesenteric adenitis, epiploic appendagitis, Crohn disease, and even GI malignancy.

Why do I need to prep for a pelvic ultrasound?

Your healthcare provider may ask you to drink plenty of water before an abdominal pelvic ultrasound. A full bladder helps the transducer's sound waves travel, creating a clearer picture of your bladder. You usually don't need to do this for a rectal or transvaginal ultrasound.

What organs does pelvic ultrasound see?

A pelvic ultrasound shows organs in the lower belly, including the bladder, uterus, cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes in females, and the prostate, seminal vesicles, and bladder in males, plus can reveal things like fibroids, cysts, tumors, and blood flow, helping diagnose pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding, or pregnancy issues.
 

What emotion is held in the pelvic floor?

The Mind-Body Connection Is Real

But they also respond directly to the nervous system. That means when you're under chronic stress, or experiencing anxiety, trauma, or depression, your pelvic floor often reacts by tightening and holding tension—sometimes without you even realizing it.

What are warning signs of pelvic pain?

Symptoms of pelvic pain

• a sharp, stabbing or burning pain that happens suddenly.
• a pain that comes on slowly but does not go away.
• a dull or heavy ache, or feeling of pressure.
• a twisted or knotted feeling.
• a cramping or throbbing pain, which may come and go.

How many minutes is a pelvic ultrasound?

A pelvic ultrasound typically takes 15 to 45 minutes, though the entire appointment, including setup and review, might last around 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the type (transabdominal or transvaginal) and the complexity of what the doctor needs to see. The actual scanning time is usually shorter, focusing on capturing detailed images of organs like the uterus, ovaries, or bladder.
 

What are the red flags of pelvic pain?

Pelvic pain with foul vaginal discharge and a high fever can be caused by endometritis or a pelvic infection. Mid pelvic pain above the pubic area, burning pain while urinating, voiding of small urine volumes, cloudy urine, or bloody urine can all be symptoms of cystitis, bladder stones, or a urinary tract infection.

Can an ultrasound tell if an ovarian cyst is cancerous?

TVUS (transvaginal ultrasound) uses sound waves to look at the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries by putting an ultrasound wand into the vagina. It can help find a mass (tumor) in the ovary, but it can't tell whether it's cancer or benign. In fact, most masses found during screening are not cancer.

What is the best time to do a pelvic ultrasound?

The best time for a pelvic ultrasound for general gynecological checkups is days 5-10 of your cycle (counting the first day of your period as day 1), right after your period ends, when the uterine lining (endometrium) is thinnest, making abnormalities like fibroids or polyps easier to see. However, timing depends on the goal: PCOS diagnosis might need days 2-5, ovulation checks are mid-cycle, and for abnormal bleeding, immediately after your period is ideal.
 

Will a sonographer tell you if something is wrong?

No, an ultrasound technician (sonographer) cannot give you a diagnosis or tell you definitively "if something is wrong," as they are not doctors; they capture detailed images and measurements for a radiologist or physician to interpret, though they might point out "areas of concern" or seem to react, they must remain professional and non-diagnostic, and only the ordering doctor can explain the full results and next steps. 

What is concerning on a pelvic ultrasound?

Abnormalities in the anatomic structure of the uterus, including endometrial conditions. Fibroid tumors (benign growths), masses, cysts, and other types of tumors within the pelvis. Presence and position of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD)