The ultrasound, popularly known as sonography, is a unique and safest imagining process used widely in the medical field to detect and diagnose various health conditions. It uses high-frequency sound waves which travel within your body and create images of internal organs. Sound waves can easily pass through water medium but bounce back when hitting any internal structure, generating an image effectively. One of the most common applications of this process is used to detect pregnancy. Even regular ultrasonography is recommended for pregnant ladies to check the health of the developing fetus at every advanced stage.

Besides detecting pregnancy, it is highly recommended to detect a variety of abnormalities and also to monitor the health of internal organs.

To answer what is ultrasound, you don’t need in-depth knowledge of sound waves but rather a general understanding of its application, as the same technique is used in radar systems. Therefore, the same method and principle are used to understand the state of all the body’s internal organs and how they perform. Even some abnormal tissue growth like tumors and cysts can be effectively detected on time to avoid further complications.

One of the most significant benefits of ultrasound therapy is that it does not emit radiation like X-rays, thus making it one of the safest options for detecting various diseases and pregnancies. Although it is a very safe and easy process, it needs specific preparations, and here we will discuss the pre-procedure of sonography.

The preparation depends on the process of the ultrasound that needs to be done. Generally, it is done in two methods: outside the body and inside the body. Both have their own set of restrictions, and your technician or doctor will be the one who will provide complete guidance.

Pelvic Ultrasound Or Lower Abdomen Ultrasound

It is generally done to see the condition of a growing fetus in females or to understand the health of pelvic organs in any gender. You will be instructed by your technician or doctor to drink a certain amount of water and not urinate. It requires a full bladder to examine the internal organs as it will help to increase visibility and will provide better image clarity.

Upper Abdomen Ultrasound

This is generally done to check the health of organs like the gallbladder, liver, etc. The upper abdomen ultrasound must be performed on an empty stomach, and your doctor will instruct you not to eat anything for more than 12 hours. An undigested food particle might obstruct the vision and will not give a satisfactory result.

Ultrasound Within The Body

Sometimes ultrasound is done within the body by inserting the transducer through the body’s natural opening. In this case, certain restrictions need to be followed, which will be guided by your physician.
For transrectal ultrasound, a patient needs to have an empty stomach, and sometimes an enema will be given to get a proper image. Whether you require an enema or not can be decided by your physician after assessing your condition.
For a transvaginal ultrasound, you need to drink around 32 ounces of water around one hour before the process and not urinate.

Generally, ultrasound therapy is a straightforward process that requires some general guidelines, such as

A patient has to change into a hospital gown provided by the clinic
Sometimes in some special cases, a sedative is injected to make the patient more relaxed and comfortable, and it is injected through a tube to the back of the head
Sometimes, a contrasting agent needs to be injected to get a better image. This agent will help to give your doctor a better vision and helps to generate better images of your internal organs. If you are allergic to it, you should discuss it with your doctor beforehand.

Sonography is a common yet valuable medical process, and it is always best to get it done from a reputed clinic with all the necessary facilities. Star Imaging & Path Lab is a diagnostic clinic in Delhi that provides a variety of medical tests at a very affordable price.