Pelvic Ultrasound

A pelvic ultrasound looks at:

• The ovaries, uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and bladder of a woman.

• The prostate gland, bladder and seminal vesicles of a man.

Organs like the uterus, ovaries and prostate gland are solid and uniform, while the bladder is fluid filled. All of these organs show up clearly on a pelvic ultrasound. Organs and structures that can fill up with air, such as the intestines and bones, are not well visualized on an ultrasound and may prevent the other organs from being seen clearly. During a pelvic ultrasound a transducer, which is a small handheld device, is passed back and forth over the lower abdomen. This type of ultrasound is commonly done in women when large uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts are suspected, In men it can help visualize the prostate. A pelvic ultrasound can also help determine the cause of abdominal pain.