Ultrasound

How does an ultrasound work?

Obstetric ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of your uterus, ovaries, and baby during pregnancy. Because ultrasound has no known harmful side effects to you or your baby, it’s a preferred method of monitoring yours and your baby’s progress during pregnancy.

Ultrasound is also a valuable diagnostic tool for gynecological problems.

During an ultrasound exam, your provider uses a handheld transducer against your skin to send sound waves through your body. In most cases, ultrasound is noninvasive, and as the sound waves travel beneath your skin, they send echoes that are converted into images that you can see on a video screen.

For diagnostic testing not related to pregnancy, your practitioner may use a transvaginal ultrasound inside your vagina during a pelvic exam. 

When might I need an ultrasound?

During pregnancy, ultrasound imaging can detect and evaluate the following:

• First-trimester progress
• Your baby’s gender
• Fetal abnormalities
• Fetal growth, size, and weight
• Fetal position in the womb
• Location of the placenta
• Amount of amniotic fluid in the uterus
• Number of babies in the uterus

Advanced Women’s Health Specialists also offers 3D ultrasounds for its pregnant patients.

Your practitioner may also use ultrasound to evaluate health issues not related to pregnancy, including:

• Examining a pelvic mass, like a cyst or fibroid
• Pelvic pain
• Potential infertility causes
• Locating an intrauterine device (IUD)
• Monitoring infertility treatments
• Detecting ectopic pregnancy

Your practitioner can also use ultrasound imaging to evaluate your pelvic floor for problems associated with urinary incontinence.

What are 3D ultrasounds?

While a two-dimensional ultrasound during pregnancy is usually a standard procedure, three-dimensional ultrasounds may be optional. Like 2D ultrasound imaging, 3D ultrasounds use sound waves to produce images of your baby in the womb. A 3D ultrasound creates a three-dimensional image of your baby. 

Some doctors prefer 3D ultrasounds for their ability to show certain types of birth defects that may not be visible on a 2D ultrasound image. Your provider at Advanced Women’s Health Specialists may use 2D or 3D imaging, depending on your needs. 

To learn more about diagnostic testing and pregnancy monitoring with state-of-the-art 3D ultrasound technology, or to schedule a consultation, contact the Advanced Women’s Health Specialists office closest to you by phone or online.