Pelvic MRI
Helps your doctor to see the bones, organs, blood vessels, and other tissues in your pelvic region — the area between your hips that holds your reproductive organs, as well as numerous critical muscles.
This helps your doctor inspect potential problems found in other imaging tests, such as X-rays. They also use pelvic MRI scans to diagnose unexplained hip pain, investigate the spread of certain cancers, or better understand the conditions causing your symptoms.
An MRI doesn’t use radiation, unlike X-rays and CT scans, so it’s considered a safer alternative, especially for pregnant women or young children.
Since your pelvic area holds your reproductive organs, your doctor may order the test for different reasons depending on if you’re male or female.
A pelvic MRI scan is a useful test for both sexes if you have:
- birth defects
- injury or trauma in the pelvic area
- abnormal X-ray results
- pain in the lower abdominal or pelvic region
- unexplained difficulties urinating or defecating
- cancer (or suspected cancer) in your reproductive organs, bladder, rectum, or urinary tract
Preparation
Before the test, tell your doctor if you have a pacemaker or any other type of metal implanted in your body. Depending on your type of pacemaker, your doctor may suggest another method for inspecting your pelvic area, such as a CT scan. Some pacemaker models can be reprogrammed before an MRI so they don’t experience a disruption during the examination.
Also, because the MRI uses magnets, it can attract metals. Alert your doctor if you have any type of metal in your body from previous procedures or accidents. You’ll need to remove any metal from your body, including jewelry and body piercings, before the test. You’ll change into a hospital gown so that any metal on your clothing doesn’t affect the test.
Some MRI examinations inject contrast dye into the bloodstream through an IV line. This helps provide a clearer image of the blood vessels in that area. The dye — typically gadolinium — can sometimes cause an allergic reaction. Tell your doctor about any allergies you may have or if you’ve had an allergic reaction in the past.
In some cases, you will need to clear your bowels prior to the exam. This may require you to use laxatives or enemas. You also may need to fast for four to six hours before the exam. Women may need to have full bladders for this exam, depending on the purpose of their exam. Be sure to go over the necessary preparations with your doctor before your scan.
The procedure
Magnetic field generated by the MRI temporarily aligns the water molecules in your body. Radio waves take these aligned particles and produce faint signals, which the machine then records as images.
If your test requires contrast dye, a nurse or doctor will inject it into your bloodstream through an IV line. You may need to wait for the dye to circulate through your body before beginning the test.
An MRI machine looks like a large metal and plastic doughnut with a bench that slowly glides you into the center of the opening. As long as you followed your doctor’s instructions and removed all metal, you’ll be completely safe in and around the machine.
You will lie on your back on the table that slides into the machine. The technician may place small coils around your pelvic region to improve the quality of the scan images. One of the coils may need to go inside your rectum, if your prostate or rectum is the center of attention.
You may receive a pillow or blanket to make you more comfortable as you lay on the bench. The technician will control the movement of the bench using a remote control from another room. They’ll be able communicate with you over a microphone.
The machine may make some loud whirring and thumping noises as it takes the images. Many hospitals offer earplugs, while others have televisions or headphones to help you pass the time.
As the machine takes pictures, the technician will ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds. You won’t feel anything during the test, as the magnets and radio frequencies — those similar to FM radios — can’t be felt.
A typical pelvic MRI lasts 30 to 60 minutes.
After your pelvic MRI, you’re free to leave the hospital (or imaging center) unless your doctor tells you otherwise. If you received a sedative, you’ll need to wait to drive until the medication has fully worn off or have someone drive you home after the test.
The initial results from an MRI scan may come within a few days, but your comprehensive results can take up to a week or more.
When the results are available, your doctor will review them with you and fully explain the images. They may want to order more tests to make a diagnosis or gather more information. If your doctor can make a diagnosis from the images, they may have you start on treatment, if necessary.
For women, your doctor may order a pelvic MRI to further investigate:
- infertility
- irregular vaginal bleeding
- lumps or masses in your pelvic area (such as uterine fibroids)
- unexplained pain in your lower belly or pelvic area
For men, a pelvic MRI might look into conditions such as:
- an undescended testicle
- lumps in the scrotum or testicles, or swelling in that area
Your doctor will fully explain why they ordered the test and what they will be looking for before you have your procedure.