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

There are a number of different types of urethral sounds: These sounds are intended for probing a woman's uterus through the cervix, to measure the length and direction of the cervical canal and uterus.

Uterine sounding may be performed prior to embryo transfer to determine the uterine depth and how easily an embryo transfer catheter can be passed through the cervix.

[1] It is performed prior to insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) in order to measure the length and direction of the cervical canal and uterus.

This may occur when the IUD is inserted too deeply or at the wrong angle.