Temple University Department of Anthropology

Menstrual Cycle Study

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FAQs

What exactly is “transvaginal ultrasound”?

Ultrasound is a technique, commonly used in a hospital or clinical setting, that allows imaging of internal organs. An ultrasound wand or probe is placed near the organ of interest, and high-frequency sound waves allows the organ to be visualized on a screen.

You may be familiar with transabdominal ultrasound, in which an ultrasound wand is placed externally on the abdomen, and is commonly used to visualize fetuses during pregnancy. Transvaginal ultrasound involves a probe inserted into the vagina, which allows better visualization of the non-pregnant uterus than transabdominal ultrasound.

Before the transvaginal ultrasound procedure, the probe is sterilized and covered with a condom. Some women find the pressure of the ultrasound probe to be uncomfortable, but many women find that it is less uncomfortable than a routine pelvic exam or Pap smear that a doctor does.

What does this study have to do with Anthropology?

Anthropology is the study of humans from a holistic perspective. Biological, or Physical, Anthropology, is the subfield of Anthropology that is concerned with humans as biological creatures. Biological Anthropologists study, among other things, human biological variation and human evolution. Therefore, research that entails studies of both genetic, uterine, and menstrual cycle variation would be considered to be within the realm of Anthropology. This research is of particular importance, since no studies like it have been attempted to date.

This information is approved by Temple University for public display and is associated with project 11489.