Women’s Check: Fertility - Full Scan (Uterus, Endometrium, Ovaries).

Price:

(£99)

Total appointment length:

30 minutes.

Common reasons for scan?

For assessment of uterus, endometrium and ovaries, looking for evidence of ovarian cysts/follicles, polycystic ovaries (which can help in the diagnosis of PCOS), uterine fibroids, and /or endometrial pathology. People often have this scan prior to attending a fertility clinic and/or during their treatment.

What can be checked?

The following structures can be examined: Uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovaries. The whole pelvic area will also be scanned, looking for any evidence of cysts or free fluid.

The endometrium will be measured and examined for pathology. If seen, dominant follicles within the ovaries will also be measured, and an estimation of the time of ovulation may be possible. Evidence of ovulation having recently taken place will be looked for. If scanning to attempt to identify a dominant follicle, you should aim to book your appointment for when you are roughly mid-cycle (for most women, this would be at approximately day 12-16).

If required e.g. if your fertility clinic has requested it , a full follicle count (AFC: Antral Follicle Count) of each ovary can also be carried out.

Please note, certain factors, such as a person's body shape/BMI or overlying bowel gas, can make some structures difficult to see e.g. the presence of bowel gas may prevent an ovary being seen.

Preparation?

A full bladder is needed for the scan. Please finish drinking one pint of water, one hour before your appointment time.

Depending on your age, symptoms and anatomy, it may also be useful to perform a TV scan (transvaginal scan), in order to achieve the best possible images. You can go to the toilet to empty your bladder for this examination. A Dragon Ultrasound chaperone would be present in the room, as well as the Sonographer doing the scan. For further information about TV scans, see below.

Report:

You will be given a printed copy and/or emailed an electronic copy of the ultrasound scan report.

Images from the scan:

If your fertility clinic (in the UK or abroad) requires the ultrasound image of your endometrium measurement, please tell us, and this, along with a copy of your report, can be emailed to you and/or your clinic at no extra cost.

If the full Images from the scan are needed, these can be purchased at the reception desk, and will be sent you electronically.

Please note: Due to various guidelines stated by the Society of Radiographers (Recording of Images and Clinical Discussions, SOR, 2019), photographs cannot be taken during the examination room at Dragon Ultrasound.

TV Scans (Transvaginal Scans)

This examination often allows the Sonographer to look more closely at the ovaries, womb (uterus) and endometrium. The word “transvaginal” means “through the vagina.” For this scan, a Dragon Ultrasound chaperone will be present, you will be given privacy to change into a gown and then asked to lie down on the examination couch with your knees bent. A small probe with a sterile cover is gently passed into the vagina, so that ultrasound images can be taken. The examination may cause some discomfort, but is not normally painful, and usually only takes a few minutes.

More questions?

Look at the “Frequently Asked Questions” tab at the top of the page, email us, or give us a call on: 01443 224397.