It depends which part of your body is going to be scanned. You may not have to do anything at all.

If your pelvic area is to be scanned, you may have to drink quite a lot of liquid beforehand, so that your bladder is full when the test is done.

If your abdomen is to be scanned, you may be asked not to eat anything for five or six hours before your appointment time.

The hospital will send you full details with your appointment letter.

If you are diabetic, the hospital will need to make some special arrangements for you. If in doubt, please ask.

What will happen to me during the test?

You will lie on a couch alongside the ultrasound machine. The room may be darkened a little.

The person doing the test (a doctor or sonographer) puts some gel onto the skin, over the area to be scanned. They then pass a small probe over your skin. The probe looks like a hand-held microphone. It doesn’t hurt, but it may feel a bit uncomfortable if the doctor/sonographer has to press down quite firmly in places.

The gel makes good contact between the probe and the skin, and helps the sound waves to pass more easily through the skin. You may need to change position on the couch during the test, so that pictures can be taken from different angles.

When all the pictures have been taken you can wipe off the gel, and the test is over. It usually takes around 20 minutes to complete.

Are there any risks?

No, this is a safe test.  

When will I get the results?

A copy of the results will be sent to the person who referred you for the test (usually your GP or hospital doctor).

Your doctor will arrange an appointment so that you can talk about the test results a few days later. If you don't have a date for this, please ask.

Where can I get more information?

Remember, your doctors and nurses are there to help you. If you have any questions about your symptoms or your ultrasound scan, don’t be afraid to ask.