Pelvic ultrasound in Slavuta

How to prepare for a pelvic ultrasound

Preparation depends on how the scan is done. For an abdominal scan your bladder needs to be full: it pushes the bowel loops aside and gives the doctor a clear view of the uterus and ovaries. Usually you drink 0.5–1 l of still water 30–60 minutes before the scan and don’t go to the toilet until it’s done. Before a transvaginal scan you empty your bladder instead. We’ll explain how to prepare for your particular scan when you book.

A routine scan is usually done in the first half of the cycle, a few days after your period ends. The endometrium is thinner then, and changes in it are easier to see. For some purposes your gynecologist will choose a different day, so ask them in advance. After menopause the day doesn’t matter. Remember the date your last period started and bring reports from previous ultrasounds. To learn how to count your cycle and which periods count as too heavy, read our article on how long periods last.

If you might be pregnant, mention it when you book. In early pregnancy a separate pregnancy ultrasound is done.

What happens during the scan

For an abdominal scan you lie on your back, and the doctor puts gel on your lower abdomen and moves the probe over it. For a transvaginal scan you take off your underwear and lie on your back with your knees bent. The doctor inserts a slim probe into the vagina. It feels similar to a pelvic exam, though usually easier. If both are planned, the abdominal scan comes first, then you empty your bladder and the doctor continues transvaginally. The scan usually takes up to half an hour. Afterwards you can get on with your day straight away.

If you haven’t been sexually active, tell the doctor before the scan, and you’ll have an abdominal ultrasound instead.

What the scan shows and what comes next

The doctor assesses the size and structure of the uterus, the thickness of the endometrium, and the ovaries and the follicles in them. Ultrasound shows fibroids, polyps, ovarian cysts, free fluid in the pelvis and the position of an IUD. The endometrium changes in thickness over the cycle, so the doctor assesses it in light of your cycle day. Small cysts that form in the ovary during the cycle often go away on their own, and the doctor may suggest repeating the scan after your next period. After menopause the gynecologist looks first of all at the thickness of the endometrium, especially if there’s been any bleeding. The surface of the cervix is examined in detail during a colposcopy, which your gynecologist orders separately.

Discuss the report with a Viva Clinic gynecologist. They see patients at 27a Sobornosti St or 3 Danyla Halytskoho St, and the exact address is confirmed when you book. Swabs and lab tests are analyzed by the Diagnost-Lab laboratory at 32 Sobornosti St. The ultrasound is paid. For men, the pelvic organs are checked with a prostate and scrotal ultrasound. The polyclinic also offers other ultrasounds and diagnostic tests, so you don’t need to travel to Khmelnytskyi or Kyiv.

When not to wait for a routine scan

Call an ambulance (103) if you suddenly get severe pain in your lower abdomen, especially if your period is late or a pregnancy test is positive, or if you’re bleeding very heavily and feel dizzy. If you have lower abdominal pain with a fever or unusual discharge, see a doctor the same day.