1. What is Ultrasound?
2. How should I prepare for the procedure?
3. What should I expect during my ultrasound?


1. What is Ultrasound?
Ultrasound (US) imaging, also called sonography, is a method of "seeing" inside the human body through the use of high-frequency sound waves. The sound waves are recorded and displayed as a real-time visual image. Ultrasound imaging is based on the same principles involved in the sonar used by bats and ships As the sound passes through the body, echoes are produced that can be used to identify how far away an object is, how large it is, and how uniform it is. There is no radiation associated with an ultrasound exam.
US is a useful way of examining many of the body's internal organs, including the heart, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys as well as pelvic anatomy including the bladder, uterus, and ovaries. Because US images are captured in real-time, they can show movement of internal tissues and organs, and enable physicians to see blood flow and perfusion.

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2. How should I prepare for the procedure?
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your US exam. Other preparation depends on the type of examination you will have. For some scans, you may be instructed not to eat or drink for as many as 12 hours before your appointment. For others, you may be asked to drink up to six glasses of water two hours prior to your exam and avoid urinating, so that your bladder is full when the scan begins. This helps with visualization of the uterus, ovaries and bladder.

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3. What should I expect during my ultrasound?
During an ultrasound exam, you are usually supine on an examination table. A clear warm gel is applied to the body in the area to be examined, to help the transducer make secure contact with the skin. The sound waves produced by the transducer cannot penetrate air, so the gel helps eliminate air pockets between the transducer and the skin. The technologist presses the transducer firmly against the skin and sweeps it back and forth to image the area of interest. Ultrasound imaging is usually painless, fast, and easy.
For women undergoing a pelvic ultrasound exam, in addition to “trans-abdominal” imaging, where gel is placed on the lower abdomen, a “trans-vaginal” scan may need to be performed. In this instance, a transducer is placed within the vagina in order to provide more detailed images of the uterus and ovaries.
When the examination is complete, the patient will be asked to wait while the images are reviewed.

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