What happens in the scan room?

The scan will usually be carried out by one of our highly qualified sonographers, but sometimes you will see a consultant instead. All of our sonographers are female. You’ll have a chance to talk to your sonographer or consultant before and after the scan. You should feel free to ask any questions you have about the scan or your results.

The Ultrasound Procedure

When you are having an external or abdominal ultrasound:

• You will be asked to lie down on your back and make yourself comfortable.
• You’ll need to pull back your clothes to expose your tummy.
• Some cool, lubricating gel will be applied to your skin to help us get a clear picture.
• The sonographer will then press the ultrasound probe against your skin and move it across your abdomen to get pictures from different angles.

When you have an internal ultrasound the procedure is a little different:

• We will give you some privacy to undress. You will need to remove the lower half of your clothing, but we’ll give you a cover to protect your privacy.
• You will need to lie down on your back then draw your knees up on the couch.
• The sonographer will carefully insert the trans-vaginal ultrasound probe into your vagina. This can feel a bit uncomfortable.
• There is no risk of infection from this procedure as we carefully clean and sterilise the probes.

During the scan, the ultrasound pictures will appear on a screen in the room. Both you and the sonographer will be able to see the screen.

Additional Tests

Some kinds of ultrasound scans will require additional tests or procedures. Your doctor or sonographer will explain what to expect beforehand. You can also find out more from the relevant page on our website.