Types of Ultrasounds

In most cases, your doctor will use a transducer on the surface of the skin to perform an ultrasound. In some cases, though, a better image can be created by inserting a special transducer into one of the body’s openings, including:

• •Transvaginal ultrasound: A transducer wand is placed in the vagina to get better images of the uterus and ovaries.
• •Transrectal ultrasound: Used in the diagnosis of prostate conditions.
• •Transesophageal echocardiogram: A transducer probe in the esophagus to help the sonographer get better images of the heart.

Several other types of imaging are possible with ultrasound technology:

• •Doppler: A special kind of ultrasound that takes images of blood flow in blood vessels
• •Echocardiograms: To view the heart
• •3D imaging: Three-dimensional images rather than flat 2D images made by traditional ultrasound
• •4D ultrasound can show 3D images in motion

Benefits of Ultrasounds

Ultrasounds come with several benefits:

• •They’re typically painless and require no needles, injections or incisions of any kind.
• •Patients aren’t exposed to any radiation, making the procedure safer than X-rays or CT scans. There are no known harmful effects of ultrasounds when they’re performed properly.
• •Ultrasounds can capture soft tissue images that don’t show up well on X-rays.
• •Ultrasounds are widely accessible and generally less expensive than other diagnostic methods.

What to Expect

A few things to expect before or during an ultrasound test include:

• •Depending on the type of test, your doctor may tell you not to eat or drink anything for some number of hours before the test.
• •Alternatively, you may specifically be asked to drink several glasses of water and avoid using the bathroom so that your bladder is full for the test.
• •Wear comfortable clothing that’s easy to fully or partially removed.
• •You may have to disrobe or wear a gown, though the area that’s being screened can often be accessed without this.