Ultrasound is a widely used imaging technique, which displays very detailed images using sound waves at a frequency much higher than the human ear can hear. During an ultrasound examination, direct contact with the skin by a scanning tool is needed to obtain an image. Hence, your highly skilled technician (sonographer) will initially ask you to change into a gown or fold clothing away from the area that is to be scanned. Your privacy and modesty is very important to us. If you have a preference to whether a male of female staff member performs your scan, please let our reception staff know at the time of your booking and we will try our best to accommodate.

Most pelvic ultrasounds and some obstetric ultrasounds will require a transvaginal (internal) ultrasound at the time of your examination. Transvaginal scanning is the best way to obtain a very detailed image of your pelvic anatomy, improving the accuracy of your test. During the transvaginal scan you will be asked to remove any clothing and underwear from your waist down and asked to lie on the examination bed, completely covered by a gown/sheet to maintain your privacy. The sonographer will then insert a probe that has been sterilised and covered into your vaginal canal to perform the scan. Transvaginal scanning should never be very uncomfortable or painful. If you ever feel pain or wish to stop the examination at any time, please let the sonographer know and they will end the examination immediately. If you have any questions about the examination please ask the reception staff or your sonographer at the time of your examination. Should you have a preference for a female staff member to perform your scan, please let our reception staff know at the time of your booking and we will try to accommodate.

A typical ultrasound examination will last approximately 20 minutes, with a few exceptions. If there are multiple examinations required on the same day, this would increase your examination time. Also there are a few ultrasound examinations that take a little longer to perform, namely obstetric ultrasound which can take from 40–60 minutes as it is very dependent on your baby’s position during the scan. Therefore, it is a good idea to allow a few hours of free time after your obstetric scan in case the scan cannot be completed in the allocated time due to the baby’s position in the womb. In such a circumstance, the sonographer will often ask you to go for a short walk and allow time for the baby to move into a different position.

It is important that you make an appointment to return to your doctor after you have collected your examination result. Whether they are normal or abnormal, your doctor needs to correlate with other information for further management.

Your result will include a copy of the images from your study as well as a report from our radiologist.

Depending on your referrer’s preference(s), a copy of the report can also be sent to your referring doctor by fax or electronic download.

Digital copies of all studies are stored on our secured database for comparison with any future examinations.

If your examination requires fasting, then book an early morning appointment and have your breakfast and diabetic medication after the examination.

Following the preparation instructions given to you by our reception staff before your examination is very important as failing to adequately prepare can affect the quality of the scan and the time taken to perform the test. Please bring any previous films with you for comparison.

Do not eat or drink anything from 6 hours before your examination. Do not smoke during this period either. An overnight fast with no breakfast and early morning appointment is the most ideal way to fulfil this preparation.

Do not eat from 6 hours before your examination. This examination requires a full bladder. We recommend you empty your bladder 2 hours before the examination and immediately start to drink 1 litre of water and finish drinking 1 hour before the examination. Hold on to a full bladder until the staff member performing your scan tells you to empty. We require a full bladder but you should not be so full that you are in pain. A good idea is to practise the day before your examination the drinking preparation just mentioned and to adjust the amount of water you drink, depending on whether your bladder fills up slowly or quickly.

This examination requires a full bladder. We recommend you empty your bladder 2 hours before the examination and immediately start to drink 1 litre of water and finish drinking 1 hour before the examination. Hold on to a full bladder until the staff member performing your scan tells you to empty. We require a full bladder but you should not be so full that you are in pain. A good idea is to practise the day before your examination the drinking preparation just mentioned and to adjust the amount of water you drink, depending on whether your bladder fills up slowly or quickly.

This examination requires a full bladder. We recommend you empty your bladder 2 hours before the examination and immediately start to drink 1 litre of water and finish drinking 1 hour before the examination. Hold on to a full bladder until the staff member performing your scan tells you to empty. We require a full bladder but you should not be so full that you are in pain. A good idea is to practise the day before your examination the drinking preparation just mentioned and to adjust the amount of water you drink, depending on whether your bladder fills up slowly or quickly.

This examination is best performed during the 12th week of your pregnancy (by your last menstrual period or previous dating ultrasound). This is a screening test used to establish the level of risk your pregnancy has for Down’s Syndrome and various other chromosomal abnormalities. Following the ultrasound, you will be sent with a referral for a blood test to help establish this risk. This examination requires a full bladder. We recommend you empty your bladder 2 hours before the examination and immediately start to drink 1 litre of water and finish drinking 1 hour before the examination. Hold on to a full bladder until the staff member performing your scan tells you to empty. We require a full bladder but you should not be so full that you are in pain. A good idea is to practise the day before your examination the drinking preparation just mentioned and to adjust the amount of water you drink, depending on whether your bladder fills up slowly or quickly.

This examination is best performed during the 19th week of your pregnancy (by your last menstrual period or previous dating ultrasound). This is a screening test used assess your baby’s anatomy for any complications. We do require some fluid in your bladder for this scan; however we do not require you to be overly full. We recommend that you empty your bladder 2 hours before your scan and immediately drink 600mL of water and hold off emptying your bladder until the staff member performing your scan tells you to empty.

For this test, we do require some fluid in your bladder for this scan; however we do not require you to be overly full. We recommend that you empty your bladder 2 hours before your scan and immediately drink 600mL and hold off emptying your bladder until the staff member performing your scan tells you to empty.