Abdomen & Pelvis Ultrasound Scan

There are many reasons you might need an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound, including pelvic or abdominal pain, abnormal blood or urine test results, concerns about your abdominal and reproductive organs, or checking for inflammation, tumours and cancer.

It’s normal to feel a bit unsure if this is your first abdomen and pelvic ultrasound. But there’s no need to worry- these scans are quick, gentle, and shouldn’t cause pain.

There are two parts to this type of scan: a transabdominal ultrasound and, if needed, a transvaginal ultrasound.

For the transabdominal scan, you’ll lie on your back while one of our trained specialists applies a gel to your lower belly. This gel helps produce clear images by removing any air between the skin and the probe. The specialist will gently move the ultrasound probe over your abdomen to capture images. Most people find this step completely comfortable, but let us know if any area is sore.

After the scan, we’ll wipe off the gel and give you privacy to get dressed.

If a closer view of your pelvic organs is needed, we may offer to carry out a transvaginal ultrasound. If you are happy to proceed, you’ll be asked to empty your bladder first, then undress from the waist down in private. The transducer is slim-about the size of a tampon-and covered with a sterile cover and gel before being gently placed into the vagina.

The abdominal part of the scan is usually painless. During a transabdominal scan, most people feel comfortable, though having a full bladder can cause some pressure. Luckily, the scan doesn’t take long.

If you’re having a transvaginal ultrasound, you might feel brief discomfort when the probe is inserted. It’s narrow and shouldn’t hurt, but tell us if anything feels off.

If this position is hard for you, let us know. We can always adjust to make the scan easier for you. Your comfort is important to us.

The blood test is carried out at the same appointment as your ultrasound scan, so everything is completed in one visit. The clinician will ask you a few basic questions and then take some blood from a vein in your arm. We will then send this to the lab for analysis. The time taken for results is specified on the individual blood test pages.

You can view your results on the web portal (provided by email) or by downloading the Forth app.

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For the most accurate results, schedule your blood test in the morning, ideally within three hours of waking, and fast for 4-6 hours before your test. We can still complete your blood test if you book outside this window, but it may affect your results. To get accurate results for cortisol, the sample should be collected at 9am.

Drinking water is encouraged. Staying well hydrated helps make the blood collection easier. On the day of your appointment, wear a loose-fitting top so your arm is easily accessible.