Ultrasound examination has been a part of the assessment and care of women’s health and pregnancies for more than 30 years.

Most doctors practicing now would not have known a time when access to an ultrasound examination was not available.

Harmless clear gel is squirted on to your tummy and then an ultrasound transducer is placed on the gel and directing it towards your pelvis. When the scan is performed in this way it is called transabdominal scanning.

The transducer is a device that is capable of transmitting high frequency sound waves into your pelvis and detecting the small amount of sound that is reflected back.

These received sound echoes are used to build up a picture of the pelvis that can be interrogated and displayed in a number of ways.

Sometimes it is useful to use a narrow transducer inserted into your vagina. This is called Transvaginal Ultrasound. It’s not painful and by doing the scan this way, we can obtain improved images - particularly in gynaecology and early pregnancy.

In some circumstances, we occasionally place the transducer external to the vagina when we wish to look specifically at the muscles of the pelvic floor. This is called Transperineal Ultrasound.

In pregnancy, the scans range from those performed in early pregnancy, at 11 to 14 weeks, for fetal assessment of anatomy at 20- 24 weeks and fetal welfare studies thereafter.

It is also possible to integrate the newer techniques of 3D and 4D images into these conventional 2D scans so that parents can see a life like image of their pregnancy.

Of course. We can normally accommodate up to three other people to watch. However, please be aware that if a transvaginal scan is necessary, it might be appropriate for children to leave the room at this time.

Prior arrangements generally need to be made with the companies for scans done in pregnancy.

For all transabdominal scans in early pregnancy or gynaecology scans, it is helpful to use the ‘window’ provided by a full bladder to look into the pelvis. Please come to these scans with a full bladder if possible otherwise we may ask you to wait and consume lots of water.

Scans done later in pregnancy do not need a full bladder.

Transvaginal scans are best done with an empty bladder.

For a transabdominal scan we need to see your tummy from the belly button to the pubic bone, so loose adjustable clothing is the most practical.

Warm ultrasound jelly will be placed on your tummy that does not damage clothing.

It is necessary to remove clothing below the waist and wear a loose wrap for a transvaginal scan. Therefore if you anticipate having a transvaginal scan, you should bear this in mind when choosing what to wear on the day.