What is an ultrasound?
Ultrasound images are produced by the reflection of sound waves from your internal organs and tissues much like the way sonar technology is used underwater. Ultrasound is a fast non-invasive procedure used to detect many diseases and disorders in any area of the body at any angle.
What does an ultrasound show?
An Ultrasound shows images that distinguish between healthy and unhealthy tissue. It is used to examine various types of anatomy including the abdomen, pelvis, breast, obstetric (OB), gynecologic (GYN), and small parts.
How long does an ultrasound take?
Most exams take between 15 and 30 minutes.
Are there any restrictions to prevent me from having an ultrasound?
There are no restrictions that may prevent you from having an Ultrasound.
Is there any preparation before the study?
Day of Study
There is some preparation before certain types of Ultrasound exams.
- Abdomen: Please do not eat or drink anything 6 hours prior to coming for your exam.
- Pelvis (OB or non OB): You will be informed to drink at least 20-32oz. of water one hour prior to arriving for your study.
When arriving for the study it is advised to do the following:
- Wear loose and comfortable clothing with no metal.
- Remove any jewelry or other objects that may interfere with the study.
What can I expect?
A hand held transducer is manually moved around the area of interest. To insure good contact between the transducer and the body, the ultrasound technologist may apply a harmless gel to the surface of your skin.