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Pelvic Ultrasound Scan at HCA UK
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PELVIC ULTRASOUND SCAN
Why choose us for your pelvic ultrasound scan?
Our consultants are gynaecologists first, and we have decades of experience in women’s healthcare, meaning that your pelvic ultrasound scan will be carried out to the very highest standards. Our expert teams can use it to assess your gynaecological health and identify any underlying conditions, so you can be referred on to the right specialists with the HCA UK network for any further treatment you may need.
A pelvic ultrasound scan, sometimes called a transvaginal scan, uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your pelvic area, between your hip bones. It’s non-invasive, which means it doesn’t require surgery.
This scan examines the area that includes many of the key parts of your reproductive system, including your womb, your uterus, your ovaries, your fallopian tubes, your cervix and their surrounding structures. The images from the scan allow your consultant to look for signs of any abnormalities or underlying conditions that might affect your reproductive system and your fertility.
A small tube called a transducer is inserted into your vagina. The transducer emits high-frequency sound waves that travel through your body and bounce off the bones and structures in your pelvic area, creating echoes. Those echoes are converted into images that your consultant can see onscreen.
This gives them a more detailed picture than they’d get from an external examination or abdominal ultrasound, which is done from outside the body.
A pelvic ultrasound scan is used as a diagnostic tool for a wide variety of conditions and abnormalities. It’s often part of a wider programme of fertility testing and treatment.
The scan can provide important information which helps with the diagnoses of the following conditions:
- Cysts
- Tumours
- Fibroids
- Polyps
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal bleeding
- Pelvic infection
- Endometriosis
It can also be key part of a full fertility assessment, alongside other tests and scans, helping your consultant to assess the health of your womb and identify underlying conditions that may affect your fertility, such as fibroids or endometriosis. This test can also measure your ovarian reserve, which is the number of eggs you have in your ovaries.
The test is usually carried out by a sonographer, someone who specialises in ultrasound imaging. But depending on your specific circumstances, your scan might be carried out by a radiologist, a gynaecologist or a specialist nurse. It will always be completed to the same high standard.
Your consultant might also recommend some further scans to gain a clearer picture of your reproductive health, giving them more information alongside the results of your pelvic ultrasound scan.
A 3D pelvic scan offers a more detailed view of your uterus, and helps your consultant see if there are any abnormalities in the shape of your womb.
A saline infusion scan or contrast scan helps your consultant see if there are any fibroids or polyps on the walls that line your uterus, as these benign growths can affect your fertility.
On-site tests and procedures
Our main clinic is directly linked to our hospitals
On-site testing
All our labs are in-house
Fully personalised care
Experience state-of-the-art facilities
YOUR PATIENT JOURNEY
Your pelvic ultrasound scan with HCA UK
This is a delicate procedure, and we’ll care for you with sensitivity, understanding and respect at every stage of the process. You’ll be looked after by an experienced team, who’ll take the time to explain every step in detail, making sure you’re prepared and that all your questions or concerns are answered.
We’re always here to discuss your options, but this outline gives you a good idea of what to expect from the process.
01
Before your pelvic ultrasound scan
This is a short, non-invasive procedure that doesn’t require anaesthetic or surgery, and it’s relatively pain-free too. So, you don’t need to have someone with you to help you recover or get home afterwards.
Wear clothes you that are easy to get in and out of, as you’ll need to undress. We’ll give you a gown to wear instead.
The level of fluid in your bladder affects ultrasounds, so your consultant might ask you to make sure you have a full bladder, a partially full bladder or an empty bladder before the procedure.
02
During the pelvic ultrasound scan
The scan will take place in an ultrasound room in one of our clinics, and you’ll be asked to lie on your back with your knees bent. Your clinician will lubricate a small rod called a transducer and gently insert in into your vagina. It’s curved to your vagina’s shape so it shouldn’t be too uncomfortable, although you might feel some mild pressure or discomfort.
The transducer will create and record images of your pelvic area. Your clinician might ask you to shift your body position from time to time so that the transducer can capture different areas in more detail. Once enough images have been captured for a detailed analysis, the transducer will be removed.
03
Follow-up and next steps
You should be able to go home immediately afterwards, and you shouldn’t experience any lingering pain or discomfort, although there might be some discharge from the lubricating fluid used on the transducer.
Your test results will give your consultant a clearer idea of any abnormalities or conditions that need specific further treatment. Your consultant will ask you to come in for another consultation to discuss your results, so they can talk you through any next steps and answer your questions.
Where can I get my pelvic ultrasound scan?
Our network of clinics is staffed by specialist teams who can offer all the help and support you need.
Lister Fertility Clinic
Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH London
Lister Fertility Clinic at The Portland Hospital
First Floor 215 Great Portland Street W1W 5PN London
Lister Fertility Clinic at The Shard
The Shard Outpatients St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Lister Fertility Clinic at The Beaconsfield Clinic
Little Hall Barn Windsor End, Beaconsfield HP9 2JW Buckinghamshire
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for treatment and don’t want to wait, all of our fertility treatments can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll provide you with a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Pelvic Ultrasound Scans FAQ
You should be able to book into one of our clinics and get an appointment in as little as a few days.
Yes, you can. We have both male and female fertility consultants available, so you can make your appointment with someone you feel totally comfortable with.
Your pelvic ultrasound test might be part of a wider programme of treatment. If so, your consultant will explain how it all fits together, including giving you transparent costs.
The HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) inspects all our clinics to assess their compliance with regulations and standards and gives them a rating. This is to help you choose your clinic based on the quality of its services.
Our Lister Fertility Clinic at The Portland Hospital and The Lister Fertility Clinic both hold a top HFEA inspection rating of 5/5.
Fertility patient stories
Clare’s fertility treatment
Clare and her husband Derek thought they might never have children, until joining the egg-sharing programme at the Lister Fertility Clinic.
Jayne's IVF treatment
Jayne had been trying for 10 years to have a baby when she was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries. The Lister Fertility Clinic helped her conceive.
How Lister Fertility Clinic helped two fathers-to-be
Paul is sitting in his home in Belfast, with his husband Neil and their beautiful three-month-old son Felix, talking about their journey to fatherhood – a journey that the Lister Fertility Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK, accompanied them on.
“Mr Jones is such a wonderful doctor - I know I am in the best hands! Also Liz, one of the ladies who does the scans, and all the nurses are all brilliant!”
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