Ultrasound Scanning

An ultrasound scan, sometimes called a sonogram, is a procedure that uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of part of the inside of the body, such as the pelvis, abdomen or breasts. As sound waves are used rather than radiation, the procedure is deemed to be completely safe. Ultrasound scans are also commonly used during pregnancy to produce images of the baby in the womb.

Ultrasound waves are directed at your body using a small handheld sensor called a transducer. This is moved over the surface of the skin and generates sound waves. When the sound waves hit an object, such as an ovary, kidney or uterus (womb), they bounce back as an echo. A computer converts the reflected ultrasound echoes into an image.

Ultrasound scans can be used to help doctors make a diagnosis or to assess the effects of a treatment. They can also be used to study blood flow and to detect any narrowing or blocking of blood vessels.

Internal examinations

There are different kinds of ultrasound scans depending on what part of the body is being scanned and why. If you have a potential problem in your womb or ovaries, or if you are suffering bleeding in early pregnancy, it is not unusual for your Consultant to need to do examinations that involve an ultrasound probe being placed into the vagina to look more closely at internal structures. This procedure may cause some minor discomfort, but is not usually painful.