The Fertility Center of Las Vegas

A look at the procedure: What to expect with a transvaginal ultrasound

If you’re wondering what to expect with a transvaginal ultrasound, our team can give you some guidance. A transvaginal ultrasound gives your fertility care team a look at your reproductive organs, including your uterus and ovaries. A transvaginal ultrasound can serve many purposes, so the goal of yours depends on the type of ultrasound our Las Vegas fertility doctors prescribe.

When you are a new patient, we often start with a transvaginal gynecology ultrasound while you are on your period to inspect your uterus for fibroids, polyps or irregularities of the uterine lining. We will also look at your ovaries to measure their volume and count the antral follicles, which gives us information about your egg reserve. At the same time, we will check your ovaries for cysts or masses.

If you are undergoing infertility treatment, you will have a baseline ultrasound where we check to confirm that your ovaries have not formed any unexpected cysts that may disrupt your treatment. We also look at the endometrial lining thickness to make sure it is thin and even after a menstrual period.

Once treatment medications have started, you may undergo a follicular ultrasound to monitor the progress of the medications. We will examine your ovaries closely and measure any growing follicles, which are the fluid “nests” that house your growing eggs. We will also note the thickness and appearance of your endometrial lining.

Who will perform my transvaginal ultrasound?

One of our reproductive ultrasonographers will perform this routine exam and share the results with our Las Vegas fertility doctors. For our patients who live out of state, this exam may occur at your primary gynecologist or a monitoring clinic.

Our goal is to gather more information about your uterus and/or ovaries, whether it is to help in diagnosing a cause for infertility or to monitor the progress of your treatment.

Are there any side effects?

The ultrasound is a typically painless exam with very few side effects. It is safe to perform this exam while you are on your period. This may seem awkward, but is routine for us. However, you may want to bring an extra pad or tampon. You may also note increased discharge after the exam, as we use lubrication.

It is not normal to have significant itching, burning or pain after this exam. Inform your team if you experience these symptoms, as occasionally women will have an untreated yeast infection or urinary tract infection.

What happens after my ultrasound exam?

You may resume normal daily activity after this exam. The next steps will depend on the purpose of the ultrasound.

What can I do to increase my comfort during a transvaginal ultrasound?

You will be given the option to empty your bladder before an ultrasound. Inform the team if you have difficulty with vaginal exams or if you experience tenderness during the exam.

What will FCLV do to increase my comfort?

We avoid the use of latex, and we use lubrication for all our exams. We will talk you through each step so that you know what to expect with a transvaginal ultrasound.

What else can I expect with a transvaginal ultrasound?

Most of our scheduled ultrasounds occur in conjunction with bloodwork on the same day, so be sure to check before you leave the office. Otherwise, expect a fairly quick appointment with minimal disruption to the rest of your day.

To learn more about what to expect with a transvaginal ultrasound, or to schedule an appointment with our Las Vegas fertility doctors, contact us.