Transvaginal ultrasound is a test that uses reflected sound waves to produce a picture of the reproductive organs and other structures inside the pelvis. It does not use X-rays or other types of radiation.

For a transvaginal ultrasound, an ultrasound wand (transducer) is placed in the vagina. The transducer emits high-pitched sound waves (above the range of human hearing) that bounce off the uterus and ovaries and are picked up again by the transducer. A computer analyzes the sound waves and converts them into a picture that is displayed on a video monitor. The picture produced by ultrasound is called a sonogram, echogram, or scan.