Value and limitations of vaginal ultrasonography--a review

Vaginal ultrasonography has become an indispensable method in infertility and early pregnancy investigations, in spite of its comparatively recent introduction. Initially this technique was introduced as an alternative for abdominal ultrasonography in in-vitro fertilization treatment for monitoring follicle growth and harvesting oocytes. In due course, the technique was used in many other fields of gynaecology and obstetrics, e.g. ovulation induction, early detection of (ectopic) pregnancy, oncology and placenta localization. The value and limitations of vaginal ultrasonography are discussed as well as patients' acceptance.