Transvaginal vs abdominal ultrasound: which is better?

If all this time you only knew abdominal (abdominal) ultrasound, did you know that there are still various other options for ultrasound? Transvaginal ultrasound is one of them. But between the two, which ultrasound examination procedure is best to do? Is it an abdominal ultrasound or a transvaginal ultrasound? Here's the full review.

Recognize first the difference between abdominal ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound

Both transvaginal ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound can be done before or during pregnancy. Both are available for those of you who want to check the progress of your pregnancy or check for certain health problems.

However, before really assessing which ultrasound examination to choose, it is better to first understand the differences between these respective transvaginal and abdominal ultrasound.

Abdominal (Abdominal) Ultrasound Source: National Cancer Institute

Examination places and procedures

At a glance from the name, of course, abdominal ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound clearly have different examination techniques.

Abdominal ultrasound or abdominal ultrasound is an examination that is carried out through the outside of the stomach, by applying gel to the entire abdominal area. Apart from being useful for smoothing the movement of the transducer, this gel also aims to prevent the presence of air between the skin and the transducer. Next, the doctor will use a stick called a transducer that is moved above the stomach to capture a real picture of all the internal organs in it.

While transvaginal ultrasound is an internal examination method that involves the use of a transducer 2-3 inches long to be inserted directly into the vagina. You will get a more detailed picture of the results of the examination of the female reproductive organs, including the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, to the cervix.

The target of the examination

Although it is more commonly known as a routine examination method for pregnant women, that does not mean that those of you who are not pregnant are prohibited from doing this abdominal ultrasound. This is because the stomach, kidneys, liver, pancreas, intestines, and other organs in the abdominal cavity are also the main targets for abdominal ultrasound examinations.

Especially for those of you who have been diagnosed by a doctor with swelling of body organs, fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity, kidney stones, appendicitis, and so on, which are easier to detect through abdominal ultrasound.

Another case with transvaginal ultrasound which is more aimed at examining the reproductive organs of women, both during pregnancy or not. Examination outside of pregnancy is useful in detecting the growth of cysts or tumors in the ovaries, abnormal pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, or ensuring the correct IUD insertion.

When performed during pregnancy, transvaginal ultrasound usually aims to monitor any changes in pregnancy that may be at risk, check the fetal heart rate, check the condition of the placenta, indicate the possibility of abnormal bleeding.

Time of inspection

Another thing that distinguishes transvaginal and abdominal ultrasound examinations is the timing of the method. Abdominal ultrasound can be done at any time as soon as it is recommended by a doctor, either to check for pregnancy or to check for medical conditions.

Meanwhile, transvaginal ultrasound has a special timing rule, namely in the early trimester of pregnancy, aka before the 8th week of gestation for those pregnant. Or when it has entered the ovulation phase or fertile period for women who are not pregnant.

Transvaginal Ultrasound Source: Medical News Today

So, which ultrasound to choose?

Basically, the abdominal ultrasound examination method or transvaginal ultrasound are both accurate. The main determinant of which type of ultrasound to undergo depends on the purpose of your examination.

If you are not pregnant and want to know the condition of your reproductive organs, then a transvaginal ultrasound can be an option. However, if you want to confirm the condition of the abdominal organs and are not pregnant, you can choose an abdominal ultrasound, which is more specialized in observing the internal organs of the stomach rather than transvaginal ultrasound.

Likewise with women who are pregnant. Transvaginal ultrasound performed during pregnancy has the same purpose as abdominal ultrasound, which is to monitor the condition of the fetus in the stomach.

Which is more effective at detecting intrusions?

However, transvaginal ultrasound is considered to have a much more in-depth method because it can be in close contact with the organ that you want to examine. Especially if it is done when the gestational age is still in the early trimester, where the size of the uterus has not been too developed so it is rather difficult to be observed through external screening.

Supported by the results of a study published in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, transvaginal ultrasound is considered superior to abdominal ultrasound. This is because transvaginal ultrasound is able to show the condition of the fetus as well as the mother's reproductive system more clearly and accurately during pregnancy.

Transvaginal ultrasound results are also considered more effective than abdominal ultrasound when performed at less than 10 weeks of gestation, used by people who are overweight (obese), and in women with an inverted uterus (retroverted).

Even so, come back to the original purpose of your examination. Because in essence, these two ultrasounds can be the best choice in providing an overview of the condition of the fetus and the organs in the body.