Transrectal ultrasound is a type of pelvic ultrasound, what does it do?

In addition to abdominal (abdominal) and vaginal ultrasound, some people are advised to do a transrectal ultrasound. Transrectal ultrasound is a part of pelvic ultrasound that is performed to diagnose a disease. You may be wondering, who should do a transrectal ultrasound and what are the conditions? In order not to be curious, let's find out in the following review.

Transrectal ultrasound is one of the early detectors of a disease

There are three types of pelvic ultrasound, namely abdominal (abdominal) ultrasound, transvaginal ultrasound, and transrectal ultrasound. The process for these three types of ultrasound is almost the same. The only difference lies in the place where the transducer is inserted, aka the ultrasound tool itself.

Transrectal ultrasound is a non-surgical examination performed by inserting a transducer into the rectum or anus. This ultrasound procedure makes use of high-energy sound waves that are reflected off the organs and tissues around the pelvis.

The function of transrectal ultrasound is to look for abnormalities in the rectum and organs around the pelvis, including the prostate. Even so, this does not mean that transrectal ultrasound can only be done on men, you know. Women can also feel the benefits of this transrectal ultrasound.

In fact, in women, ultrasound performed through the anus gives the same good results as transvaginal ultrasound. In fact, the results can be much better than abdominal ultrasound.

In women, the function of transrectal ultrasound is to detect various abnormalities in the female ovaries. Usually, women who experience menstrual disorders but are not sexually active are advised to undergo transrectal ultrasound, rather than transvaginal ultrasound.

Who needs transrectal ultrasound?

Transrectal ultrasound is usually performed on people who have problems with the organs around the pelvis, both men and women. This includes the male reproductive organs (prostate) and female reproductive organs (ovaries).

The various purposes of transrectal ultrasound are as follows:

1. Assess the condition of the prostate gland
2. Diagnosing prostate cancer
3. Look at the size and location of the tumor in the anus or rectum
4. See if the tumor has spread to lymph nodes or other tissues in the body
5. Examining the pelvic area of ​​a woman, when transvaginal ultrasound is not possible
6. Look for the causes of fertility problems, such as cysts in the reproductive organs, both in men and women

Does transrectal ultrasound hurt?

Quoted from Very Well Health, Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) revealed that transrectal ultrasound is safe to do by anyone. But the next question is, will it hurt?

Basically, Transrectal ultrasound is a simple and painless procedure. However, you may feel a little uncomfortable, similar to when you have a bowel movement, when the transducer is inserted into the anus.

But calm down first. There are several ways you can reduce discomfort during a transrectal ultrasound. One way is to understand the transrectal ultrasound procedure itself. If you already know what the transrectal ultrasound process looks like, then you will be more relaxed and less surprised.

Before starting a transrectal ultrasound, the doctor will wrap the transducer in a condom and then apply gel to the surface. Well, the presence of this gel can help reduce discomfort during ultrasound.

After that, keep your breath as calm as possible to relax the rectal muscles. The more calm you are through it, the ultrasound process will run smoothly and be painless.

Which must be prepared before undergoing transrectal ultrasound

Actually, there are no special preparations that you have to do before undergoing a transrectal ultrasound. Just prepare yourself mentally so that the transrectal ultrasound process can run smoothly.

Also, tell your doctor if you have any allergies to certain medications. For example, if you are regularly taking blood thinners, you will usually be asked to stop taking the drug for a few days.

Don't hesitate to ask your doctor before starting a transrectal ultrasound. Whether it's about the stages of the procedure to the possible side effects. That way, you will be calmer to do this ultrasound.