Ultrasound

What is ultrasound imaging?

Ultrasound imaging, or sonography, is a type of imaging test that obstetricians and gynecologists frequently use to diagnose female health conditions and assess the progress of pregnancies. 

Ultrasounds are unique because they show a real-time image on a monitor that you can watch with your provider instead of a still image. You can also save still images from your ultrasound imaging test. Many women keep sonography images of their growing babies during pregnancy.

Unlike X-rays and similar imaging tests, ultrasounds do not use radiation to create an image. Instead, they use high-frequency sound waves that come from a handheld device called a transducer. 

During the test, your provider applies a layer of warm gel to your skin on your abdomen to help the sound waves travel from the transducer to your organs. During a transvaginal ultrasound, they place a wand-shaped transducer inside your vagina to get an image of your reproductive organs.

The team at Corpus Christi Women's Clinic is pleased to offer 4D ultrasounds, which are performed in HD (High Definition), and deliver a real-time, HD live action recording of your unborn baby. The 4D ultrasound exam may be limited by the baby’s position and amount of fluid around the baby. The team believes the best images are obtained at 28-32 weeks of pregnancy. We record a 15 minute DVD in real time and take several thermal still images of the baby for you to have.

Corpus Christi Women's Clinic also offers bone density scans for postmenopausal women at risk of osteoporosis. 

What does ultrasound imaging show?

Ultrasound imaging shows a real-time black and white image of your organs. Uniquely, it also shows blood as it flows through these regions. Your provider can find blockages within veins and arteries using ultrasound. 

Women often get ultrasounds to view their babies as they grow within the womb. Ultrasound imaging shows your cervix, uterus, ovaries, bladder, and fallopian tubes and anything within the region, including a growing fetus. It can also show abnormalities in breast tissue or guide needles for biopsies and injections. 

What can an ultrasound help diagnose?

Ultrasound imaging can help the team at Corpus Christi Women’s Clinic get a closer view of your baby or of your own organs and tissues. It can help you discover details about your baby, like his or her sex. Additionally, your providers can use ultrasound imaging to diagnose or identify:

• Tumors
• Pelvic fibroids
• Uterine structural abnormalities
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Fetal abnormalities

Your provider answers your questions about conditions and complications like these after your testing appointment. 

Is ultrasound imaging safe?

Ultrasound imaging is the safest imaging test out there, which is why providers often use it for pregnant women to view their growing babies and for other purposes. Other tests use radiation, which can cause cancer for you or your baby in large doses. 

Beyond its safety, ultrasound imaging is entirely painless and is usually noninvasive. It’s important to note, however, that using ultrasound imaging to view your growing baby can result in the observation of abnormalities that you might not be aware of before the test. The team at Corpus Christi Women’s Clinic typically recommends further testing to confirm a diagnosis.