Gynecologic ultrasonography
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Gynecologic ultrasonography or Gyn sonography refers to the application of medical ultrasonography to the female pelvic organs, specifically the uterus, the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, as well as the bladder, the Pouch of Douglas, and any findings in the pelvis of relevance outsite of pregnancy.
The examination can be performed transabdominally, usually with a full bladder to achieve better visualization, or transvaginally with a special vaginal transducer. Generally transvaginal imaging gives better resolution of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, whereas lesions reaching into the abdomen are better seen transabdominally. The procedure is painless, noninvasive, and safe.
Gyn sonography is used extensively:
- to assess pelvic organs,
- to diagnose and manage gynecologic problems including endometriosis, leiomyoma, adenomyosis, ovarian cysts and lesions,
- to identify adnexal masses, including ectopic pregnancy,
- to diagnose gynecologic cancer
- in infertility treatments to track the response of ovarian follicles to fertility medication (i.e. Pergonal).
Through transvaginal sonography ovarian cysts can be aspirated. This technique is used to obtain human eggs (oocytes) through sonographic directed transvaginal puncture of ovarian follicles in IVF.
Sonohysterography is a specialiced procedure by which fluid, usually sterile saline, is installed into the uterine cavity, and gyn sonography performed at the same time. The procedure delineates intrauterine pathology such as polyps, Asherman's syndrome, or submucous leiomyoma.
