Ultrasound Specialist
Longoria OBGYN
Leonardo A. Longoria K., MD
Obstetrician & Gynecologist located in El Paso, TX
Gynecological ultrasounds offered at Longoria OBGYN in El Paso, Texas, provide valuable imaging for diagnosis of symptoms involving your pelvic organs or examining a growing fetus. Leonardo Longoria, MD, provides these diagnostic and evaluative gynecological and obstetric ultrasounds in the comfort of his office. If you need an ultrasound, there’s no need to travel far. Call Longoria OBGYN or schedule online today.
Ultrasound Q & A
What is an ultrasound?
An ultrasound is a noninvasive screening test to examine your internal organs. At Longoria OBGYN, ultrasounds are used to view your:
- Uterus
- Ovaries
- Cervix
- Fallopian tubes
- Bladder
Don’t be concerned about how ultrasound will affect your growing baby or internal organs; the procedure uses no radiation. A 3D ultrasound gives you a three-dimensional image of your baby while in the womb. Not only is this a special image to see, it also gives Dr. Longoria a better picture of your baby so he can detect any possible abnormalities.
What should I expect during an ultrasound?
During an ultrasound, you lay on an exam table as a technician moves a wand over the areas of your body that needs examination — either your abdomen or the lower pelvis. This wand, or transducer, emits the sound waves that hit an object — such as an organ or a growing fetus — and are then bounced back to a computer to form images that the doctor reviews.
Some cases call for a transvaginal ultrasound. In these situations, the sterile wand is inserted into your vagina to give a better image of the uterus and cervix.
When is a gynecologic ultrasound ordered?
If you’re pregnant, ultrasounds are a routine part of your prenatal care. They check your baby’s growth and gender and look for any potential health concerns.
Certain symptoms may suggest health issues in your pelvic organs and may be identified via ultrasound. These include:
- Irregular periods
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Intense menstrual cramps
- Pelvic pain
- Suspected ovarian or uterine cancers
- Infertility
- Pain during intercourse
- A mass or irregularity detected during a pelvic exam
Your symptoms determine which organs are the focus of an ultrasound examination.
Though an ultrasound can help determine if you have an ovarian cyst or fibroids but it cannot accurately see endometriosis.
When is a transvaginal ultrasound ordered?
If Dr. Longoria wants to examine the lining of your uterus and ovaries, a transvaginal ultrasound may be ordered. This ultrasound also gives him a better image of the muscular walls of the uterus.
A transvaginal ultrasound may turn into a procedure known as a sonohysterogram. To give a clearer picture of the uterus during the ultrasound, the doctor injects a saline solution into your uterus during the procedure.
For more information about ultrasound screenings, call Longoria OBGYN or schedule an appointment online today.