PELVIC ULTRASOUND: Is a study of the pelvic organs including the uterus, ovaries and surrounding adnexal regions. The study may be extended to the iliac (pelvic) fossa &/or lower abdomen when required.
Sometimes your doctor will request “Lower abdomen Ultrasound” when referring actually for the pelvic organs.
We can also perform PCS- Exclude Pelvic Congestion Syndrome- Ask your doctor for this.
Reasons/ indications include: pain, irregular periods,menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, polyps, fibroids, other lesions, adnexal masses, peritoneal inclusion cysts, past cesarean, and many other conditions.
PREP.1: FULL BLADDER:
For this test, you need to have a full bladder. Empty your bladder only once 2 hours before the test (this is so that you do not have an uncomfortably overfull bladder at appointment time). Do not empty the bladder again. Then drink 1 litre of water (5 average cups) and finish it 1 hour before the test. Also drink another half litre (2 cups) half an hour before the test if you can. Do not empty your bladder until after the ultrasound test.
We use the water in the bladder as a window to transmit the sound waves. Also, the full bladder pushes the air-filled bowel up out of the way, which would otherwise cause shadows and obscure our vision of the uterus and ovaries.