In the treatment of breast diseases great importance has timely detection of pathological changes in their condition. Ultrasound diagnostics is widely used for this purpose. Ultrasound also allows examination for preventive purposes. This makes it possible to establish the nature of neoplasms on initial stage when you can do without major surgery. It is recommended to undergo examination regularly, so women are interested in how often an ultrasound can be done, and whether they need to somehow prepare for an examination with this method.
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Ultrasound method and its capabilities
The method is based on the ability of body tissues to absorb ultrasonic radiation in different ways, depending on their consistency and density. Ultrasonic waves are directed at the area under study at different angles. This allows you to obtain video images of cavities filled with liquid or air, as well as seals of any size.
Ultrasound examination is one of the main methods for detecting benign and malignant tumors, abnormal tissue growth (mastopathy), polyps and cysts in the mammary glands. The method allows you to study the condition of the lymph nodes.
Breast ultrasound is used to monitor biopsy (taking a tissue sample from a suspicious area of the gland), as well as laparoscopic operations on the mammary glands. Using this method, you can monitor the recovery process of patients after treatment with drugs or surgical operations.
Video: What pathologies can be detected using ultrasound examination
Benefits of Ultrasound
The main methods for diagnosing pathologies in the mammary glands are ultrasound and mammography. These methods often complement each other. If mammography allows you to determine the nature of the formation, then with the help of ultrasound you can find out whether neighboring tissues are affected and detect metastases.
Ultrasound has the following advantages:
- The examination is absolutely harmless, since no radioactive radiation is used. This makes it possible to prescribe it to women under 30 years of age. Sensitivity to the effects of radiation at this age is increased, so mammography is not used unless absolutely necessary.
- Ultrasound can be performed during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- The study can be repeated without harm to health as many times as necessary to monitor the growth of the tumor or the condition of the breast after treatment.
- Using this method you can explore The lymph nodes, detect metastases in them.
- The method is suitable for examining women with any breast size. Using mammography, it is impossible to see small tumors in large glands. For small breasts, only ultrasound is also suitable, since mammography cannot be done.
- An ultrasound examination allows you to examine the gland if there is inflammatory process, as well as after injury, since diagnosis does not require direct contact with the organ, unlike mammography.
Such an examination is available to almost every patient, since relatively simple equipment is used, and the cost of the examination is low.
In what cases is ultrasound performed?
Indications for when to do an ultrasound of the mammary glands are a violation of the size and shape of one or both glands, an asymmetrical arrangement of the nipples, and the appearance of discharge not associated with lactation. Discharge of any kind (transparent, bloody, purulent) is a pathology.
If the nipple is retracted, the breast skin peels off, and when you lift your arms, depressions form on it, this indicates the presence of a malignant process. The study will help determine the location and features of the development of the neoplasm. To clarify the nature of the tumor, a biopsy is performed under ultrasound guidance.
The method is used to detect compactions of any size and type. A woman can notice their formation through self-diagnosis. It is impossible to do without this study for chest injuries.
The reason to visit a mammologist and examine the condition of the glands is the presence pain in one of them or in both at once. Often, pain, burning, a feeling of heaviness and swelling in the chest intensify during menstruation. This also speaks of diseases.
For preventive purposes, such a study is recommended to be done once a year for all women. reproductive age. The main reason for the formation and growth of mammary tumors is the increased content of estrogen in the body. In young women, a hormonal surge is associated with endocrine diseases, use of contraceptives. Preventive examinations are especially necessary if there is a family predisposition to breast cancer.
After 50 years, aging of the body and decreased immunity contribute to the emergence of infectious and inflammatory diseases genitals, which leads to hormonal imbalance. Sometimes women take hormonal medications to relieve menopausal symptoms. All this significantly increases the likelihood of breast tumors. Therefore, women over 50 years of age are recommended to have an ultrasound scan twice a year.
On what day of the cycle is it better to perform an ultrasound?
The condition of the mammary glands is directly related to the phases of the menstrual cycle. In order for the examination results to be most accurate, an ultrasound of the mammary glands must be done immediately after the end of menstruation, before ovulation occurs (approximately 5-12 days after the start of the cycle). At this time, there is no swelling in the chest, the network of ducts is most clearly visible. In the second half of the cycle, the breasts become swollen and denser, which is associated with the body’s preparation for pregnancy.
Note: If a woman has an irregular cycle, her periods come with a delay of 2 months or more, then the study can be carried out on any day.
During pregnancy and lactation, ultrasound is performed mainly in cases of suspected cancer. The structure of the mammary glands changes so much during these periods that small nodes cannot be detected. Therefore, ultrasound cannot diagnose cancer at an early stage.
After 50-52 years, when a woman’s menstruation stops, an ultrasound can be performed at any time, since the condition of the mammary glands is stable.
Video: When and how breast examination is performed
How is the procedure performed?
During the examination, the woman lies on her back with her hands raised to her head. The breast skin must be cleaned of cosmetic creams, otherwise the result will be inaccurate. The glands are treated with a special gel so that the sensor can glide smoothly over the skin.
When conducting a diagnosis, first examine healthy breasts, and then studied pathological changes in the patient. During a preventive ultrasound, the glands are examined, as well as the areas in which the lymph nodes are located. The procedure lasts 15 minutes.
When deciphering the data, the ratio of glandular, fibrous and adipose tissue, the expansion of the ducts, the structure of the lobules and the skin are determined.
Let's figure out which day of the cycle is best to perform an ultrasound of the pelvic organs? It is done to find out what general state genital organs of patients, whether they have the correct structure. The specialist will carefully examine the space around the uterus and the ligaments that support it. Gynecological examination using ultrasound can be performed on different days of the cycle. The specialist will choose the appropriate research method and inform you about it. Now you understand that depending on what area in the pelvis needs to be examined, it is better to do an ultrasound on one day or another.
Uterine examination
Ultrasound of the uterus is done both prophylactically and to establish and clarify the diagnosis. Indications for ultrasound examination are:
- In the menstrual cycle there are disturbances;
- No menstruation for a long time;
- The woman is suspected of infertility;
- The menopause has arrived;
- Menstruation is too heavy;
- From one period to another, bleeding appeared;
- The woman has noticeable pain in the lower abdomen.
After the examination, the ultrasound specialist, and then your doctor will find out whether you have:
- Mucosal hyperplasia;
- Salpingitis;
- Fibroids in the uterus;
- In the ovaries there is polycystic disease;
- Neoplasm;
- inflammation in the genitals;
- Endometriosis;
- There is pathology in the cervix;
- You are pregnant;
- There is a benign neoplasm in the ovaries.
Diagnosis is made using suitable ultrasound examination techniques.
For what reasons are there restrictions?
The doctor most often refers the patient to the first ultrasound of the uterus when the menstrual cycle is in phase 1. For what reason? At this time, the endometrial layer in the uterus is thinner than at other times. You can make an excellent overview of the organ, notice the pathology, how the endometrium develops.
When the 2nd phase of the cycle, a preliminary examination is done and a repeat examination will be required, but now the endometrial layer in the uterus will be thick. The ultrasound specialist will not be able to see on the screen whether there is a cyst or tumor. They will hide in the endometrial layer.
Why else are ultrasounds done? different days cycle? Due to the maturation of the egg. A follicle cyst occurs on the ovary. If it is up to 3 cm, this is within normal limits. It is difficult for a specialist to understand where a normally maturing egg is in a follicle, and where is a pathological cyst? When your period ends, the natural cyst will disappear, but the pathological one will remain. From the beginning of the next cycle it is easy to detect.
On what day of the cycle should an ultrasound be done? In the middle of the cycle, an examination is prescribed if they want to observe how the egg matures and ovulation occurs. This will help to understand why a woman has problems conceiving a baby, is she really infertile?
When is it optimal to perform a gynecological ultrasound?
Gynecological ultrasound is best performed from 3 to 5 days, when menstruation ends. But no later than from 7 to 10 days of the cycle. The fallopian tubes and ovaries are examined at the same time as the uterus. This is from days 5 to 7 of the cycle.
When a doctor needs to assess how much the ovaries are functioning (follicles are developed in them, a corpus luteum has formed), an ultrasound examination is prescribed 2 times. From 8 to 10 days 1 and from 14 to 16 days 2. You can also perform a 3rd examination from 22 to 24 days.
If there is a delay and when more than 14 days have passed since ovulation, and tests show that you are not pregnant, you need to ask your gynecologist for a referral for an ultrasound. These signs may indicate the formation of a cyst.
Why is it better to do an ultrasound in phase 1 of the cycle?
During this period, the endometrium, or mucous membrane inside the uterus, is thin. If there is a polyp on it, with submucosal myoma or hyperplasia, then they are perfectly visualized on the monitor. When phase 2 of the cycle begins, the endometrium thickens and hides polyps and other small tumors.
"Advice. Get diagnosed at the time recommended by your doctor." From the middle of the 1st cycle or into the 2nd phase, there are 2-3 cm follicles in the ovaries. Corpus luteum cyst. which appears after ovulation is a normal phenomenon in the female body and will last from 10 to 14 days.
Menstruation will begin, and when it ends, from days 3 to 5, small cysts, 7 to 12 mm in diameter, will be visible in the ovaries in the screenshot. In the 2nd half of your cycle, it is difficult for a specialist to accurately determine whether it is a natural cyst or a pathological one, the removal of which is performed surgically.
To establish the correct diagnosis, you will be sent for an ultrasound again from 3 to 5 days after the end of menstruation. In the middle or in the 2nd half of the cycle, an examination is prescribed for those who find out whether they are infertile or not. The doctor observes how mature the follicle is and whether it has ovulated.
Normal parameters of female organs in the pelvis
If you are of childbearing age, then the normal uterus is from 40 to 59 mm, average 52 mm. Body thickness varies from 30 to 42 mm, with an average of 38 mm. The width of the body is from 46 to 62 mm, and on average 51 mm. The length of the cervix varies from 20 to 35 mm.
The menstrual cycle affects the size of the uterus. It is least when the end of the proliferative period and the beginning of the secretory period. Enlarged before the onset of menstruation.
A specialist cannot always detect an ovary. It is oval, homogeneous inside, and has average echogenicity.
The vagina is tubular in structure and small in diameter. Its echogenicity is low. An echogenic line runs down the middle. Walls from 3 to 4 mm.
Getting ready for the event
An ultrasound can be performed without preparation, but to make it reliable and as informative as possible, listen to the doctor’s recommendations. Best before diagnosis:
- 3 days before the examination, try not to eat foods that can cause increased gas formation in the intestines. these are legumes, soda, etc. If the intestines are swollen, the ultrasound specialist will not be able to give a correct conclusion on the examination of the uterus and other genital organs.
- Don't have the desire or ability to stick to a diet? 2 days before the procedure, drink 3 tablets of activated carbon per day. You can take Espumisan, the dose is in the instructions.
- On the day of diagnosis, the intestines should be clean. If you empty it every morning, then everything is fine. If not, do an enema.
- To do an external ultrasound, you need a full bladder. In 30 min. Before diagnosis, drink coffee or tea or mineral water. These drinks are diuretic and you will quickly feel that your bladder is full. Drink 1 liter of liquid. During transvaginal diagnosis, the bladder needs to be emptied. Before the ultrasound, you need to take a shower at home.
No other procedures are required. Diagnostics lasts 5-30 minutes. Screenshots will be taken during the examination. Based on them, the doctor will establish the correct diagnosis. It will tell you if you have pathological changes in the uterus, endometrial layer, ovaries, etc.
"Advice. The examination method is accurate. No other additional ones are required."
How can a woman prepare for an ultrasound:
In order for the study to be complete and accurate, carry it out on the right day of the cycle, using the right method. It is good when the examination is carried out using modern equipment, and the results are interpreted by a highly qualified doctor.
If you feel pain in the lower abdomen? appeared unpleasant discharge, immediately go to see a gynecologist. He will send you for an ultrasound and tests. Soon the specialist will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Now you know which day of the cycle is best to do an ultrasound.
Pelvic ultrasound on days 10 and 20 of the cycle.
Ultrasonography appeared not so long ago. But the benefits of its use are invaluable. Thanks to it, obstetricians and gynecologists can monitor the health of not only pregnant women and babies in the womb, but also ordinary patients who come for appointments every day. The examination of the pelvic organs has its own characteristics, and therefore it is worth knowing which day of the cycle is best suited for this procedure.
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs
A doctor may prescribe this procedure for various reasons:
- Discomfort in the lower abdomen;
- Unscheduled or repeated vaginal bleeding;
- Inflammatory processes.
What can be determined by this procedure:
- Uterine or ectopic pregnancy;
- Determine the size and shape of the uterus or ovaries;
- See the presence of uterine fibroids, cysts, fibroids, tumors.
Diagnosis is done in several ways. Which one you choose depends on your diagnosis and what your doctor decides. There are three options in total:
- Transabdominal ultrasound is a familiar option for everyone, when a sensor lubricated with gel is moved over the surface of the abdomen. In this case, you should know that this procedure is done on a full bladder. Thanks to this, the result of the examination of the pelvic organs will be carried out as accurately and efficiently as possible;
- Transrectal ultrasound is a fairly rare test option, although depending on your problem it is quite applicable. It is most often used for men;
- Transvaginal ultrasound is a frequently used diagnostic option. Here the picture is completely opposite to the first option - the procedure is done on an empty bladder. Therefore, try not to drink liquids for several hours before the test. And don't forget to tell your doctor if you have allergic reactions for latex products.
Whatever diagnostic option your doctor chooses, you must remember that for various types gynecological studies there is a corresponding day of the menstrual cycle. Let's talk about this in more detail.
Which day to choose
Universal time for spending various manipulations in relation to a particular pelvic organ, the first five days after the end of menstruation are considered. Or is it the first 10 days of the general menstrual cycle. On days 5-7 of the menstrual cycle, it is possible and recommended to conduct examinations of the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes. Diagnosis of the ovaries is carried out several times throughout the entire cycle to obtain more accurate and reliable results.
If there is no delay in menstruation, elevated temperature, but the test shows negative result, also visit your doctor immediately. At the beginning of the cycle, it is easy to detect the formation of a cyst.
Why the first phase of the cycle?
There are reasons for doing research in the early days.
If you want to do an ultrasound examination of the uterus, then you should know that it is during this period that its mucous membrane is the thinnest. If there is a tumor, unclear formation or other kind of pathology inside this organ, then they can be seen with maximum accuracy and reliability during this period. Starting from the second phase of the cycle, the mucous membrane becomes much thicker and visibility through it is not so clear. It is important to know on what day of the cycle to prescribe an ultrasound of the uterus, so that the medical diagnosis is 100% accurate.
Ovarian examination will also be performed the best way exactly at this time. This will make it possible to accurately determine the presence of a cyst, and not a follicle, which forms immediately before the onset of menstruation and is very similar to it. In the first half of the cycle, diagnostics of this pelvic organ will show a 100% result. In addition, you should know that cysts are divided into several types. This may be a formation that is natural and associated with normal operation ovary or is it a pathology. In the middle of the cycle, it is quite difficult to accurately answer this question, which means you cannot be sure whether it will be necessary surgical intervention or you can do without it. Agree that this is a fairly serious decision and doubts are unacceptable here. In this case, you will have to wait for the start of the next cycle, and precious time will be lost.
It is best to carry out all studies after the complete completion of menstruation. It is not recommended to perform an ultrasound of the uterus during this process. The fact is that bloody issues will not allow for high-quality research and your doctor may miss something important. If you are not sure when to go for this procedure, contact your doctor and he will tell you the day of the cycle that is most favorable. But if you have problems with the ovaries, then menstrual flow will not be an obstacle at all. Here it comes down to the patient’s personal feelings - for many ultrasounds during menstruation, especially transvaginal, or when a full bladder is needed, causes discomfort - and for aesthetic reasons.
In order for everything to go well, you need to do an ultrasound examination of a particular pelvic organ correctly. Not only the doctor, but also the patient must be vigilant and aware. Attending doctors repeat their instructions several dozen times a day and cannot always remember who was told about the specifics of performing an ultrasound and who was not. If you do not know the details, do not hesitate to ask your doctor yourself or read about it in the relevant literature. Such knowledge will help you not waste time because sometimes such minutes can be worth their weight in gold. If you know what needs to be done, then the ultrasound will always be 100% efficient for you.
Gynecological transvaginal ultrasound of the pelvic organs is done on days 5-7 of the cycle to detect the presence of fibroids or cysts.
When is the best time to undergo a gynecological ultrasound?
Gynecological ultrasound is best performed 3-5 days after the end of menstruation, but no later than 7-10 days of the cycle, if you count from the beginning of menstruation from the first day. Patients ask why gynecological ultrasound It is better to do it in the first phase of the menstrual cycle. It's simple: during this period, the endometrium, which is the mucous membrane lining the inside of the uterus, is quite thin. If there are any pathologies of the uterine cavity or endometrium, for example, fibroids, hyperplasia, polyps, it is easier to examine them on ultrasound with a thin endometrium than with a thick one. The endometrium thickens in the second phase of the cycle and small polyps can hide in its thickness, remaining unnoticed.
From the second half of the cycle, a follicle begins to mature in one of the ovaries, which explains the appearance of cysts with a diameter of 2-3 cm. These cysts are normal physiological structures and represent either a cyst corpus luteum, or a follicle that should soon ovulate. In the first 3-5 days from the beginning of menstruation and at the very end of the menstrual cycle, small cysts with a diameter of up to 7-12 mm are distinguished in the ovaries. This is considered the norm. However, to distinguish them by external structure from pathological cysts that need to be removed is almost impossible.
Indications for a gynecological ultrasound in the middle or second half of the menstrual cycle are observations of follicle maturation in order to confirm the fact of ovulation. This study indicated for women seeing a specialist for infertility.
Is it worth performing a gynecological ultrasound during menstruation?
Menstrual blood does not allow the doctor to properly examine the internal cavity of the uterus, however, to assess the condition of the ovaries and uterine walls, it is advisable to conduct an ultrasound examination during this period.
Preparation for gynecological ultrasound. What and how?
Girls who have not previously had sexual intercourse (virgins) must have a full bladder before the study. To do this, it is enough to drink 1-1.5 liters of non-cold liquid and avoid urinating for 40 minutes before the procedure. In other cases, it is necessary, on the contrary, to empty the bladder before a gynecological ultrasound.
Stages of gynecological ultrasound
Gynecological ultrasound can be performed either as an independent examination or as part of an examination by a gynecologist. Very often, it is the gynecologist who performs the ultrasound examination. In this case, the ultrasound machine will be located in the gynecological examination room.
- Before the test, your doctor will ask you to empty your bladder if you are not a virgin. Before starting the procedure, you need to remove some of your clothes and lie down on the couch.
- A gynecological ultrasound is performed using a vaginal probe called an abdominal probe. This sensor is an elongated cylinder with a diameter of 2-2.5 cm. Before inserting the sensor into the vagina, the doctor will put a special nozzle or condom on it and apply a special gel that facilitates the passage of ultrasonic waves.
- After this, the sensor will be inserted into the vagina. This procedure is completely painless and should not frighten the patient. A gynecological ultrasound lasts only 10-20 minutes.
- At the end of the study, the doctor gives the patient a conclusion. Thanks to modern equipment, it is possible to shoot short films and take photographs, recording them on digital media. These images and films can be subsequently transferred to another doctor to review the patient’s medical history and obtain another independent opinion for a more complete picture of the condition of the female reproductive system.
IN medical center“Norm”, every woman will be able to undergo a gynecological ultrasound and find out everything about the state of her health. The clinic employs experienced specialists using modern equipment that allows for a complete diagnosis of diseases of the reproductive organs, based on its results, making an objective diagnosis and, if necessary, prescribing effective treatment.
