Ultrasound is like ordinary sound except it has a frequency (pitch) higher than people can hear. Ultrasound waves are sent into the body from a scanning instruments (transducer) placed on the patient's skin. The sound is reflected from structures inside the body and analyzed by a computer to make a picture of these structures on a television screen. The diagnostic ultrasound is commonly called sonography / ultrasonography /ultrasound scan.

Diagnostic ultrasound has been in use since 1960s.considering its benefits and recognized efficacy for medical diagnosis including use during all trimesters of human pregnancy, the american institute of ultrasound in medicine (aium) bio-effects committee has stated "no confirmed biological effects on patients or instrument operators caused by exposure at intensities typical of present diagnostic ultrasound instruments have ever been reported"

There Are Many Medical Indications For Using Diagnostic Ultrasound. Ultrasound Can Be Used To Examine Many Parts Of The Body Including The Abdomen, Breasts, Female Pelvis, Prostate, Scrotum, Thyroid And The Vascular System. Most Commonly Ultrasound Is Used During The First, Second, Third Trimester Of Pregnancy.

The Most Common Reason For Having An Ultrasound Examination During Pregnancy Is To Help Your Doctor Determine When Your Baby Is Due, Or To Make Sure Or To Make Sure Your Baby Is Growing As It Should. Your Doctor May Also Want An Ultra Sound Scan To Determine Your Baby's Position, Or To See If You Are Carrying Twins Or Triplets. Ultrasound May Also Be Useful To Detect Some Birth Defects.

Patient Preparation Involves Removing Any Articles Of Clothing Or Jeweler Surrounding The Area To Be Imaged. In Some Cases The Patient May Be Asked To Wear A Patient Gown.

The Patient Is Positioned On An Examination Table. A Clear Gel, (Which Helps To Connect The Ultrasound Transducer To The Skin) Is Applied To The Area To Be Examined, For Example Abdomen.

The Radiologist Then Brings The Transducer Into Contact With The Skin And Sweeps It Back And Forth To Image The Area Of Interest (E.G.: The Fetal Baby). The Patient Is Simply Required To Relax And Stay Calm During The Examination.

There Is No Pain In An Ultrasound Examination. If You Have Been Asked To Fill Your Bladder This May Cause Some Discomfort. In Early Pregnancy It May Be Necessary To Put A Special Transducer (Scanner) In Your Vagina, So The Very Small Baby Can Be Seen. You Will Be Asked To Empty Your Bladder Before This Type Examination. It Will Not Hurt, But You May Feel Some Pressure. It Does Not Hurt The Baby.

The Baby's Heart Beat And Movement Of Its Body, Arms And Legs Can Be Seen By Ultrasound Depending On The Age Of The Baby. The Baby Can Be Seen Moving During An Ultrasound Examination Many Weeks Before The Mother Can Feel Movement

Information Obtained From A Manual Gynecological Exam May Be Incomplete. With Pelvic Sonography, Anatomy Is Visualized And May Help Explain Findings From A Manual Exam Or Give Additional Information

Vaginal Ultrasound (Transvaginal / Endovaginal) Involves The Insertion Of A Transducer Into The Vagina. A Protective Cover Is Placed Over The Transducer, Which Is Then Lubricated With A Small Amount Of Gel. The Transducer Is Then Inserted Into The Vagina And The Pelvic Organs Scanned.

Although The Examination Is Often Performed To Look For A Cause Of Pelvic Pain, The Sonography Itself Should Not Be Painful Or Significantly Increase Your Discomfort. A Vaginal Sonography Is Usually More Comfortable Than A Manual Examination.

If You Have Been Experiencing Vaginal Bleeding, Whether Pregnant Or Not, A Careful Transvaginal Ultrasonography Will Not Be Harmful And May Be Helpful In Determining The Cause Of Bleeding.

Each Method Of Examination Has Its Advantages. The Transabdominal Approach Offers A Panoramic View Of Entire Pelvis. Improved Visualization May Be Achieved Using The Vaginal Approach, Since The Transducer Is Brought Closer To The Area Of Examination. Thus It Can Be Very Helpful In Seeing The Fetal Heartbeat In An Early Pregnancy, Evaluating The Uterus, Or Measuring A Cyst In An Ovary. The Radiologist Performing Your Sonography Will Decide Whether One Or A Combination Of Approaches Is Best For Your Particular Case

To Look For Causes Of Upper Abdominal Pain That May Be Related To The Problems In The Liver, Gall Bladder, Pancreas Or Kidneys.

Ultrasound Will Not Always Be Able To Provide All The Information Your Doctor Requires .In These Cases Additional Studies May Be Required.

Because Bone Weakens Sound Wave Ultrasound Can't Be Used To Examine The Bones Surrounding Your Abdomen, Such As Your Ribs. Also Because Sound Is Weakened As It Pass Through Layers Of Tissue, Results From Patient Who Are Obese Are Not Of The Same Quality As Those Who Are Thin. In Addition, Ultrasound Cannot Image Through Gas. Thus, Bowel Gas May Limit Visualization Of Some Structures Of Ultrasound Interest