Diagnostic Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging tool that allows the team at Dekalb Women's Specialists to effectively evaluate your reproductive organs as well as your unborn baby. It may also be used to diagnose gynecological problems and make recommendations for further treatment.
Ultrasound technology uses high-frequency sound waves that safely bounce off internal structures to create images of the inside of the human body.
Types of Ultrasound
At Dekalb Women’s Specialists, our state-of-the-art OB-GYN practice offers 3D and 4D ultrasound imaging in addition to the standard abdominal ultrasound test. The type of ultrasounds available to our patients include:
- Abdominal Ultrasound – a handheld device called a transducer is moved gently over the skin of your abdominal area to create real-time images on a nearby screen. This is what is generally known as a standard ultrasound, most commonly used to monitor the growth and development of a fetus. Special computer programs are used to create three-dimensional (3D) and video (4D) images of your baby using this method.
- Transvaginal Ultrasound – a specially designed transducer is inserted into your vagina to capture images of your pelvic structures. This may be used to assess conditions and symptoms such as infertility, abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, and more.
Why Ultrasound May Be Recommended
The most common reason ultrasound is used is to monitor fetal development during a pregnancy. More and more pregnant women are opting for 3D and 4D ultrasounds. Reasons for this include:
- 3D imaging allows you to more clearly see details of your baby’s face and body
- 4D imaging can document your baby’s activity in the womb, such as opening or closing of the eyes and kicking
Ultrasound is also used to diagnose and treat many common gynecological disorders, such as:
It may also be used to supplement a mammogram screening for breast cancer.
What to Expect
Your provider at Dekalb Women's Specialists will let you know what, if anything, you should do to prepared for an ultrasound.
Before the Ultrasound
In the vast majority of cases, no preparation is necessary. Depending on the reason for your test and type of ultrasound you will be undergoing, you may wish to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your ultrasound appointment. In addition, your provider may request that you refrain from eating or drinking for up to 12 hours before your appointment and/or drink up to 6 glasses of water 2 hours prior to your exam and to avoid urinating.
During the Ultrasound
Ultrasound testing is painless and usually takes less than 30 minutes. After you lie down on an exam table, the ultrasound technician will apply a clear gel to your skin at the site of the examination. Your technician will then firmly press the ultrasound wand against your skin and move it back and forth to generate images of the area. The images are transmitted from the ultrasound wand to a computer screen.
After the Ultrasound
There is no downtime required following an ultrasound. Your provider will review the findings from your ultrasound and provide recommendations as needed.
OB-GYN Ultrasound Near Atlanta, GA
To learn more about in-office ultrasounds at Dekalb Women's Specialists or to schedule your ultrasound, contact Dekalb Women’s Specialists, with offices in Decatur, Stonecrest, and Stone Mountain, Georgia. You can call us at (404) 508-2000 or request your appointment now.
