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Can an Ultrasound Scan Help You Understand Infertility?

If you've been trying to conceive without success, an ultrasound scan can be a useful tool in identifying underlying issues. Many gynecological conditions impact fertility, and a pelvic scan provides detailed insight into potential causes.

What Can a Pelvic Scan Show?

A pelvic scan gives a clear view of the uterus, ovaries, and surrounding areas. It can be performed transabdominally or transvaginally, with the latter offering a more detailed look.

A Fertility Pelvic Scan evaluates: ✔ Uterine structure and health ✔ Ovarian function and follicle count ✔ Endometrial thickness ✔ Presence of cysts, fibroids, or other abnormalities

Fertility Conditions Diagnosed by Ultrasound

Several reproductive health conditions can affect fertility, including:

Endometriosis: Can cause painful periods and block the fallopian tubes.

PCOS: Disrupts ovulation and affects hormone levels.

Fibroids & Polyps: Growths that may interfere with implantation.

Adenomyosis: Thickening of the uterine wall that leads to heavy bleeding and discomfort.

A private pelvic scan can be a proactive step in diagnosing fertility issues, allowing you to make informed decisions about treatment and family planning.

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Understanding Kidney Stones – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What Are Kidney Stones? Kidney stones are solid mineral deposits that develop in the kidneys. While small stones often pass unnoticed, larger ones can cause severe pain and potential health complications.

Common Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Intense pain moving from the back to the abdomen and groin

Frequent urge to urinate

Blood in urine

Nausea or vomiting

Fever and infection signs, such as cloudy or foul-smelling urine

Why Do Kidney Stones Form? Several factors contribute to kidney stone formation, including dehydration, high-salt and oxalate-rich diets, underlying medical conditions, genetics, and certain medications like aspirin and antacids.

Treatment and Diagnosis Hydration, pain management, lithotripsy, and surgery are standard treatments. Ultrasound imaging, such as a Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder Scan, helps detect stones early for an accurate diagnosis.

What are Kidney Stones and Their Symptoms?

What Are Kidney Stones? Kidney stones are solid mineral deposits that develop in the kidneys. While small stones often pass unnoticed, larger ones can cause severe pain and potential health complications.

Common Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Intense pain moving from the back to the abdomen and groin

Frequent urge to urinate

Blood in urine

Nausea or vomiting

Fever and infection signs, such as cloudy or foul-smelling urine

Why Do Kidney Stones Form? Several factors contribute to kidney stone formation, including dehydration, high-salt and oxalate-rich diets, underlying medical conditions, genetics, and certain medications like aspirin and antacids.

Treatment and Diagnosis Hydration, pain management, lithotripsy, and surgery are standard treatments. Ultrasound imaging, such as a Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder Scan, helps detect stones early for an accurate diagnosis.

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Detecting Kidney Stones: The Importance of Ultrasound Scans

What Are Kidney Stones? Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form in the kidneys. They can range from tiny, painless particles to larger stones that cause significant discomfort. This article explains the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for kidney stones, as well as how ultrasound scans aid in their detection.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones Look out for these signs:

Severe pain in the back, sides, or lower abdomen

Blood in the urine or a persistent need to urinate

Nausea, vomiting, or fever

Cloudy or foul-smelling urine, which may indicate an infection

What Causes Kidney Stones? Kidney stones can form due to:

Dehydration: Inadequate water intake leads to concentrated urine, promoting stone formation.

Diet: High consumption of salt, protein, or oxalate-rich foods (like spinach and chocolate) increases risk.

Medical Conditions: UTIs or other health issues can contribute.

Genetics: A family history of kidney stones raises susceptibility.

Medications: Certain drugs, such as antacids, may increase the likelihood of stones.

Treatment Options for Kidney Stones Treatment depends on the stone’s size and location:

Hydration: Drinking plenty of water helps pass small stones naturally.

Pain Relief: Over-the-counter or prescription medications can manage discomfort.

Lithotripsy: Shock waves break larger stones into smaller, passable fragments.

Surgery: Required for stones that cannot be treated with other methods.

How Ultrasound Scans Help Ultrasound scans, such as a Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder (KUB) Scan or a Kidneys, Bladder, and Prostate Scan, are non-invasive tools that help detect kidney stones. These scans provide detailed images of the urinary tract, aiding in accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. For faster results, consider a private scan to avoid long NHS waiting times.

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Worried About Your Pelvic Health? A Pelvic Ultrasound Can Provide Answers

Have you been recommended a pelvic ultrasound scan? It's understandable to have questions or even feel a bit anxious. At Ultrasound Direct, we want to put your mind at ease. Pelvic ultrasounds are a common procedure that provides valuable insights into your reproductive health.

What Exactly Does a Pelvic Ultrasound Examine?

This safe and painless scan uses sound waves to create images of your:

Uterus: We assess its size, shape, and overall condition.

Womb lining: This is crucial for understanding your menstrual cycle and fertility.

Ovaries: We check for any abnormalities in these vital organs responsible for hormone production and ovulation.

Pelvic area: This includes your cervix and fallopian tubes.

Why Might You Need a Pelvic Ultrasound?

Your doctor might recommend this scan for various reasons, including:

Difficulty conceiving

Painful periods or intercourse

Pelvic or abdominal pain

Unusual bleeding

Urinary incontinence

PCOS symptoms

What Can a Pelvic Ultrasound Reveal?

A pelvic ultrasound can help detect:

Fibroids: Non-cancerous growths in the uterus.

Ovarian cysts: Fluid-filled sacs on the ovaries.

Polycystic ovaries: A hormonal imbalance that can affect fertility.

Pelvic inflammatory disease: An infection of the reproductive organs.

Peace of Mind with Ultrasound Direct

Our Well Woman Pelvic Scan is performed by qualified sonographers and offers a convenient way to gain a clearer picture of your pelvic health. We provide a detailed report of your scan, which you can share with your doctor.

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Having a rainbow baby

A rainbow baby is the name for babies born after parents have experienced the loss of another child whether due to a miscarriage, or stillbirth or in the first month after birth.

The name stems from the fact that beautiful rainbows often follow a storm and can be a symbol of hope and comfort, after a dark time.

Losing a baby is devastating, and an emotionally-draining experience, as it goes against all your expectations and you are denied the happy ending that is the norm. Often it happens before you’ve told anyone you are pregnant, so others don’t understand why you’re upset or you make a choice to keep your grief hidden.

If you have conceived your rainbow baby after such a loss, you will understandably be more anxious and worried, particularly during the first trimester when miscarriage is more common, but perhaps then all through your pregnancy.

How scans may help your anxiety

Ultrasound scans give you images of your baby made up from sound waves with no known side effects. Scans can give you a detailed snapshot of your baby’s health and be a source of reassurance and detailed information throughout your pregnancy.

Ultrasound Direct have run a network of private clinics at 80+ locations offering private baby scans near you in the UK for 20 years. The company offers 14 different types of antenatal scan that can provide the extra scans you may want to think about for your rainbow baby. The clinics are run by expert obstetric sonographers, so you are in safe hands and appointments can be arranged to suit you, at a location near you.

Reassurance in the early days

The first 12 weeks of pregnancy can be worrying, as this is when miscarriage rates are highest. One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage and 85 per cent of these occur in the first trimester, [i]but a baby scan at a key point can be immensely reassuring. Even if the news isn’t good, just knowing what is happening so that you can deal with it, is often preferable to being left to fret and worry.

The NHS offers routine booking scans (sometimes called a dating scan) at between 8 and 14 weeks of your pregnancy and earlier if you experience spotting, bleeding, or cramping.

Ultrasound Direct offers early scans to provide you with the information and - in most cases - reassurance you need. These include:

·         Early scan: A 30-minute scan is offered at 6 to 11 weeks to find out if your pregnancy is viable and measuring correctly for your dates. It can also detect an ectopic pregnancy, where the baby is developing in a fallopian tube instead of the uterus.

·         Dating Scan: Performed at between 12 and 16 weeks, this 20-minute scan is also referred to as a 12-week scan or booking scan. The main purpose is to date your pregnancy by measuring your baby's size and confirm how many babies you're expecting. From 12 weeks, 4DFREEVIEW™ technology is available to give you a 3D moving picture of your baby, including their heart.

·         Babybond Nuchal Translucency (NT) Scan: Ultrasound Direct offer a Babybond Nuchal Translucency (NT) Scan (also called a nuchal scan)at between 11 and 13 weeks and 6 days gestation. This uses ultrasound to measure fluid at the back of your baby's neck (this area is called the nuchal fold). If a baby has extra fluid at this point, it's a marker for an extra chromosome and they may have Down's syndrome and you'll be counselled to see if you want further diagnostic tests to find out for sure.

·         NIPT scan: This test combines a non-invasive pre-natal blood screening test for Down's syndrome (called Harmony) with a 30-minute diagnostic scan to check viability and dates. It's performed between 10 and 22 weeks.

Second trimester scans

Many of the detailed scans available between 12 and 24 weeks use the latest 4DFREEVIEW™ultrasoundtechnology. These include:

·         Anomaly scans: This 40-minute scan is performed between 19 and 24 weeks and measures your baby's growthand checks internal organs and is probably the most important scan you'll have in pregnancy. Also available on the NHS, anomaly scans include sexing of your baby (but only if requested).

Other important second trimester scans include the Babybond Gender Scan at between 16 and 23 weeks and the JustGender™scan at 18 to 30 weeks.

Final trimester scans

The medical purpose of these baby scans is always to check on your baby's growth, wellbeing and presentation (position). If you’ve previously lost a baby at this stage in pregnancy you may appreciate the reassurance of extra monitoring scans to check on your baby’s wellbeing at this time.

Ultrasound Direct offer:

·         Growth scans: Offered between 24 to 34 weeks, these can measure your baby's growth and estimate fetal weight.

·         4D bonding scans: Available between 24 and 34 weeks, these scans use 4D imaging techniques for 20 minutes, to measure your baby’s growth and estimate fetal weight.

·         Presentation scans: From 37 weeks onwards, these scans can check if your baby and placenta are in the right positions for birth.

For a complete list of all scans offered pre and during pregnancy go to Ultrasound Direct.

What parents say about Ultrasound Direct

Ultrasound Direct actively obtain verified customer reviews via TrustPilot, one of the world’s leading review aggregators. The company cannot influence the reviews collected and welcome feedback from their clients. TrustPilot actively collect daily reviews from Ultrasound Direct clients and have currently in access of 5,000+ on record. Here’s a snapshot of recent feedback from their clients.

‘Was amazing experience!!’

“I loved it!! My scan visit was on Sunday 8 April!! Both ladies were very polite, doctor who took the scan was very nice and gentle.” Adelina Cani

‘Useful information’…

“The lady was lovely and gave us a lot of useful information.” Kelly Maxwell

‘Excellent from booking-in to the scan’

“Excellent from booking in to the scan, great service.” Danny Youles

‘Put my mind at rest about everything’

“Excellent experience and price. Receptionist and sonographer were lovely and welcoming and put my mind at rest about everything. Would definitely recommend/return.” Kelly-marie Robinson

‘Huge peace of mind’

“Appointment for early scan was well worth the money spent. We were seen slightly early than scheduled appointment so no waiting around, enjoyed being able to see scan on big screen whilst it was being performed and felt more time spent so we can watch, sonographer was kind and caring, lots of photos printed. Huge peace of mind having early scan, would recommend.” Kirsty Morgan

‘Explained the whole thing’

“Lovely staff very friendly and took time to get to know us and our situation. Explained the whole thing.” Samantha Fisher

References

[i]https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/early-pregnancy/how-common-miscarriage

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Boy or girl? The secrets a gender scan can tell you

Finding out what sex your baby is a momentous decision and many parents say it helps them bond with their baby and prepare for the birth.

Just knowing whether you are expecting a boy or girl can help with important practical preparations, such as shopping and decorating, as well as help siblings get used to the idea of having a new baby sister or brother. But knowing your baby’s sex can help you emotionally too – if you’ve been longing for a boy or girl to complete your family for instance, and find out you’re having another baby of the same sex – then a gender scan will give you the information you need to adjust and prepare.

 Should I find out the sex of my baby?

 This is obviously a very personal decision, not everyone wants to know of course, but equally the reality is others just can’t wait nine months, given that the choice is now available, thanks to ultrasound technology.

If you’re the type of person who likes to know what’s in store and be in control – then finding out what sex your baby is, is probably right for you. Equally, if you love surprises and the excitement that comes with it, then this is one secret you don’t what to know in advance. This all applies to your partner too.

 What type of gender scan is available?

 Opting for a private gender scan is becoming a more popular choice for today’s parents-to-be, as some NHS hospitals still have a policy of not revealing the sex of babies to parents. [i] But there’s a lot of variation in the quality of what’s on offer privately. Some companies will just offer a gender scan alone with no other tests or developmental measurements or checks, but others, such as Ultrasound Direct will offer a more comprehensive package or offer gender sexing as a complimentary element to other scans they offer (for example, Ultrasound Direct offer free gender sexing with their Anomaly, Growth, Presentation, 4D Bonding and simply4D scans).

 It’s worth saying though, no gender scan can always be 100 per cent accurate, a lot depends on the skill and experience of your sonographer – another reason for opting for a company such as Ultrasound Direct with a dedicated protocol, skilled obstetric sonographers, and 20 years of experience in this highly-specialised field. The company’s Babybond gender scans have been performed hundreds of thousands of times and remain the most popular in the UK. Ultrasound Direct have over 80 private clinics in the UK, so the likelihood is that they can provide a private baby scan near you, at a time that fits in your other commitments.

  What to look for in a gender scan

 ·         An Ultrasound Direct gender scan is performed between 16 and 32 weeks gestation (you must measure at least 16 weeks on their measurement system for the scan to be done, if you are less than 16 weeks you will be booked for a rescan at a later date).

 ·         Ultrasound Direct’s gender scan includes not just the sexing of your baby (based on the sonographer’s expert opinion), but a full 15-minute diagnostic appointment, which measures fetal movements and heartbeat, and includes a Babybond wellbeing checklist.

 ·         When your baby’s position is not ideal, Ultrasound Direct sonographers will ask you to take a short walk to encourage the baby to move, but if it doesn’t switch to a good position for  assessment, you will be offered a free rescan on another date.

 ·         As part of the package you will be given 2D ultrasound black and white prints, plus a 3D Freeview with 3D ultrasound B/W prints in a sleeve. Optional extras include a USB memory stick with 3D still images, colour gloss scan prints and a keyring.

  What PARENTS SAY about Ultrasound Direct

 Ultrasound Direct actively obtain verified customer reviews and feedback on all of their services.  The company they use to capture the verified reviews is TrustPilot, one of the world’s leading review aggregators. Ultrasound Direct cannot influence the reviews collected and welcome open and honest feedback from their clients. TrustPilot actively collect daily reviews from Ultrasound Direct clients and have currently more than 5,000 on record.

Here’s a snapshot of what clients have been saying about their service:

 ‘Lovely staff’ “Lovely staff, highly recommend, large tv screen to see our baby and lots of scan photos!” Adelina Cani

 ‘Excellent Service’ “Attended the babyscan clinic for a gender reveal scan. I was delighted with the whole experience and the staff were so friendly and welcoming. Would definitely recommend.” Hayley McG

 ‘Great Experience’ “The staff are lovely. This is our 3rd baby and we've had previous scans for both our previous pregnancies. The receptionist recognises us every time we come in and asks about how we're getting on, makes you feel like the staff really care about you and your family. They are always so nice and professional. During the scan they make an extra effect to make sure you have a brilliant experience and we have always gotten beautiful scan photos. Overall, I love this clinic and the staff and I'm planning on going back for another scan, the 4D scan. I would always use this clinic for my scans and would highly recommend them to anyone who's wanting a scan of their baby.”

Nicole Taylor

 References

[i] https://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1642.aspx?categoryid=54&subcategoryid=128

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Series 13: Your pregnancy week by week

A guide to your baby’s nine months development in your womb.

Pregnancy goes on for nine months and there’s lots happening every week. If you’re curious to find out more about how your baby is growing read on …….

WEEK 13: This is the beginning of a period of rapid growth, your baby’s legs and arms will lengthen and their body will increase in size. Around this time you’ll be offered your first dating or booking scan. Performed at between 10 and 16 weeks, this 20 minute scan is used to date your pregnancy by measuring your baby’s size and find out how many babies you’re expecting. From 12 weeks some private companies can offer the latest 4DFREEVIEW™ technology to give you a 3D moving picture of your baby. With a 4DFREEVIEW™ pregnancy scan you’ll get to see your baby’s internal organs ̶ including their heart beating, and a checklist of other signs indicating their wellbeing will be completed.

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Series 12: Your pregnancy week by week

A guide to your baby’s nine months development in your womb.

Pregnancy goes on for nine months and there’s lots happening every week. If you’re curious to find out more about how your baby is growing read on …….

WEEK 12: At the end of 12 weeks your baby is now fully-formed and measures around 8.5cm from crown to rump and is about the size of a lime. It’s a milestone week because after this point the risk of miscarriage falls dramatically. This is the beginning of the second trimester of pregnancy and many of the key measurements of your baby in this period will be made using ultrasound scans.

A Nuchal Translucency (NT) Scan (also called a nuchal scan can be performed between 11 and 13 weeks and 6 days gestation. This is a screening test using ultrasound to measure fluid at the back of your baby’s neck (this area is called the nuchal fold). If a baby has extra fluid at this point ̶ it’s a marker for an extra chromosome and they may have Down’s syndrome and you’ll be counselled to see if you want additional diagnostic tests to find out for sure.

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Series 11: Your pregnancy week by week

A guide to your baby’s nine months development in your womb.

Pregnancy goes on for nine months and there’s lots happening every week. If you’re curious to find out more about how your baby is growing read on …….

WEEK 11: Your baby is now about the size of a fig. Between 11 and 22 weeks is the period in your baby's development when an important prenatal test for Down's syndrome, a genetic condition that can result in learning difficulties, can be performed. A non-invasive pre natal NIPT scan consists of a blood-screening test for Down's syndrome (called Harmony) with a 30-minute scan to check viability and dates. Your baby no longer has webbed toes and fingers as they have now separated and their nail beds are developing. The head is still disproportionately large but now the body will start to lengthen and the baby uncurl itself. They will be able to stretch out and move around.

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Series 10: Your pregnancy week by week

A guide to your baby’s nine months development in your womb.

Pregnancy goes on for nine months and there’s lots happening every week. If you’re curious to find out more about how your baby is growing read on …….

WEEK 10: Now around the size of a large olive, your baby’s facial features are now developing, with ears, a nose (with nostrils) and eyelids now visible. They can react to light and can make tiny movements ̶ but it will be many weeks before you can feel this yet. This is a period when all the internal organs and structures start to grow and develop. Your baby’s jawbone has formed too – containing all the baby teeth that will start to appear in their first year.

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Series 9: Your pregnancy week by week

A guide to your baby’s nine months development in your womb.

Pregnancy goes on for nine months and there’s lots happening every week. If you’re curious to find out more about how your baby is growing read on …….

WEEK NINE: Your baby now has toes and hair follicles are also beginning to appear. They are now officially a fetus rather than an embryo and have entered a new phase of development. Their face looks more human and their eyes are distinguishable. Unbelievably, although your baby is still so tiny, it now has all the organs that an adult has. In a healthy pregnancy a strong heartbeat will usually be detectable by this stage. By the end of this week the embryo will weigh around 0.028kg and measure around 7.6 cm in length.

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Series 8: Your pregnancy week by week

A guide to your baby’s nine months development in your womb.

Pregnancy goes on for nine months and there’s lots happening every week. If you’re curious to find out more about how your baby is growing read on …….

WEEK EIGHT: This is typically the time when your baby gets a growth spurt and doubles in size. The development of your baby’s major internal organs is continuing apace, their lungs are forming and the brain is increasing in size. They may still be tiny, but complicated structures are rapidly forming including the tongue and their lip and palate, as well as nerves to later detect smell. Bones are already forming and their muscles contracting. Ridges are forming on their hands and feet where their fingers and toes will soon appear. Research has shown that if a heartbeat is detected at eight weeks the chances of the pregnancy continuing is 98 per cent.

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Series 7: Your pregnancy week by week

A guide to your baby’s nine months development in your womb.

Pregnancy goes on for nine months and there’s lots happening every week. If you’re curious to find out more about how your baby is growing read on …….

WEEK SEVEN: Your baby is now the size of a grape and the head is growing much larger than the rest of the body so they still don’t look recognisably human, although their trunk (body) is beginning to straighten and uncurl. A private early scan performed in week seven will be able to give you more idea of whether the pregnancy is viable and likely to progress. Your baby’s organs are continuing to develop, the pancreas is starting to form which will secrete hormones including insulin, and the liver starts to form bile ductules, part of the organ’s outflow system. By the end of this week they will be the size of an eraser on the top of a pencil.

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Series 6: Your pregnancy week by week

A guide to your baby’s nine months development in your womb.

Pregnancy goes on for nine months and there’s lots happening every week. If you’re curious to find out more about how your baby is growing read on …….

WEEK SIX: By now your baby will measure only about 8 to 10mm, (approximately the size of a lentil) and look similar to a tadpole, but their heartbeat may be detectable on an private early ultrasound scan. Early scans are sometimes performed transvaginally to confirm a pregnancy is still progressing, particularly if you have been experiencing bleeding or spotting. At this stage a scan will be able to distinguish a curved ‘fetal pole’ with a head at one end and a tail-like structure at the other end. The neural tube will have closed this week.

A bump forms where the head and brain will develop. The brain will divide into distinct areas, eyes and ears begin to form and the buds of arms and legs develop. They may still be tiny, but complicated structures are rapidly forming including the tongue, and their lip and palate, as well as nerves to later detect smell.

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Series 5: Your pregnancy week by week

A guide to your baby’s nine months development in your womb.

Pregnancy goes on for nine months and there’s lots happening every week. If you’re curious to find out more about how your baby is growing read on …….

WEEK FIVE: This is usually the time you find out you’re pregnant when you miss a period and use a pregnancy urine test. It’s also a crucial point in your baby’s development, as it’s when the neural tube begins to form. This later develops into the brain and spinal cord. Taking a daily 400mcg folic acid before you conceive and in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy can reduce your chances of your baby developing a neural tube defect such as spina bifida by as much as 70 per cent. By now the placenta has begun to form, as well as the buds of their arms and legs.

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Series 4: Your pregnancy week by week

A guide to your baby’s nine months development in your womb.

Pregnancy goes on for nine months and there’s lots happening every week. If you’re curious to find out more about how your baby is growing read on …….

WEEK FOUR: By now the blastocyst will have implanted itself into the thickened lining of your uterus, this may cause a tiny amount of bleeding or spotting called implantation bleeding. It will be just the size of a poppy seed around 2mm in size, but will have already developed a yolk sac. An inner group of cells form the embryo, and the outer cells later link to your blood supply to form a special pregnancy organ called the placenta, providing the baby with food and oxygen for the rest of the pregnancy.

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Series 3: Your pregnancy week by week

A guide to your baby’s nine months development in your womb.

Pregnancy goes on for nine months and there’s lots happening every week. If you’re curious to find out more about how your baby is growing read on …….

WEEK THREE: If a sperm fertilises your egg in your fallopian tubes a rapid process of cell division begins. The fertilised egg is known as a zygote with a single set of 46 chromosomes containing all the genetic material from the two parents to make a baby. At this stage it is just a disc of cells. It will travel down the fallopian tubes, cells dividing rapidly and then known as a blastocyst, a hollow cyst.