In medicine

Medicine

Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

, sounds are instruments for probing and dilating passages within the body, the best-known examples of which are urethral

Urethra

In anatomy, the urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals for the removal of fluids out of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine...

 sounds and uterine

Uterus

The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...

 sounds. Some people enjoy using them for urethral play.

Urethral sounds

Urethral sounds are designed to be inserted into the male or female urethra, for the purpose of stretching or unblocking a stricture

Urethral stricture

A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra caused by injury or disease such as urinary tract infections or other forms of urethritis.-Signs and symptoms:...

. There are a number of different types of urethral sounds:

• Bakes sounds, also known as rosebud or bullet sounds, have a long thin metal rod with a bulbous bud on the end.
• Dittel sounds have a flat end and a rounded end.
• Henk sounds have a more pronounced curve at the ends, as well as a metal rib on each end.
• Pratt sounds are longer urethral dilators (double ended ones are usually almost a foot long) with rounded and slightly bent ends.
• Van Buren sounds have a very pronounced tips and applicators

Uterine sounds

These sounds or dilators are intended for probing a woman's uterus through the cervix

Cervix

The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall...

, to measure the length and direction of the cervical canal and uterus, to determine the level of dilation, or to induce further dilation.

Uterine sounding may be performed prior to embryo transfer

Embryo transfer

Embryo transfer refers to a step in the process of assisted reproduction in which embryos are placed into the uterus of a female with the intent to establish a pregnancy...

 to determine the uterine depth and how easily an embryo transfer catheter can be passed through the cervix. In this case, it may also be called a trial transfer.
It is performed prior to insertion of an intrauterine device

Intrauterine device

A copper IUD is a type of intrauterine device. Most IUDs have a plastic T- or U-shaped frame which is wrapped in copper wire, with the exception of Gynefix, which is a plastic string with several copper beads, affixed to the fundus of the uterus...

 (IUD) in order to measure the length and direction of the cervical canal and uterus. This reduces the risk of perforating the uterus with the IUD. This may occur when the IUD is inserted too deeply or at the wrong angle.

Different types of Uterine sounds include the following:

• Hegar dilators have two rounded ends, are fairly short, and are mildly curved in shape.
• Sims sounds have a flat end and a rounded end.

External links

• maqweb.org > INSTRUCTIONS FOR SOUNDING THE UTERUS By United States Agency for International Development (USAID)