Frequently asked questions

Ultrasound is the foundation for detecting all kinds of fetal malformations, and it is also a very reliable and inexpensive way to monitor the baby.

Scientists have proven that, at whatever stage of pregnancy it is performed, ultrasound in the standard mode (the so-called B-mode) is completely harmless to the baby. This procedure can be carried out several times during pregnancy.

During an ultrasound examination you are exposed to high-frequency waves, usually in the range of 3.5-5 MHz. These waves have nothing to do with radioactivity; they are sound vibrations whose frequency spectrum lies beyond the range of human hearing. The ultrasound wave that is sent out is reflected from the various tissues of the body and picked up by a special device. It all resembles an echo in the mountains and is called echolocation.

The large number of ultrasound scans that most expectant mothers undergo generally do no harm, but at the same time they provide no additional information about the fetus, so for the most part they are pointless. Leading manufacturers of ultrasound equipment and leading clinics follow the ALARA principle (AS LOW AS REASONABLY ACHIEVABLE) — "as little as necessary" — when performing ultrasound examinations. That is, the power settings of the machine's sound signal stay within a safe range. The doctors of the MEDXPERT diagnostic center work according to the ALARA principle.

Examining just for the sake of examining can be called foolish, because everything done when examining young mothers must comply with the principle of "do no harm" and aim at making an accurate diagnosis.

The standard ultrasound examination protocol involves a step-by-step assessment of the fetal organs and systems to be examined using ultrasound waves. It follows that only gross anatomical abnormalities are accessible to ultrasound diagnosis. Changes in small organs and minor defects cannot always be detected by ultrasound.

Even today, the greatest difficulty lies in diagnosing fetal heart defects.

Remember! Ultrasound is extremely informative, but it has certain limits and cannot solve absolutely every problem.

The optimal times for an ultrasound (ultrasound examination) are 12–14 weeks, 20–24 weeks and 32–34 weeks.

An ultrasound at 12–14 weeks makes it possible to identify the so-called risk group — women who are likely to have a baby with various malformations, abnormalities in the structure and number of chromosomes, and similar conditions.

The timing of this scan is linked to the possibility of detecting characteristic signs that are absent before 11–12 weeks and disappear after 14 weeks. The presence of these signs does not yet mean that a diagnosis has been established.

In addition, at this stage it becomes possible to determine the gestational age more precisely, identify features of the placenta and detect the most obvious malformations.

The 2nd examination at 20–24 weeks is scheduled to assess the fetal anatomy. This is the optimal time to see the baby's features in detail.

Examinations at 16 to 19 weeks performed on mid-range ultrasound machines, as well as on outdated models, can easily create all the preconditions for poor-quality and delayed diagnosis of many malformations, or even for serious diagnostic errors.

It is important to know that, according to the laws of physics of the body, not all deviations from normal development of the baby in the womb can be detected by ultrasound, even between twenty-one and twenty-four weeks. Some developmental features only become apparent at later stages or even after the baby is born.

Any change to the timing of ultrasound scans reduces the effectiveness and benefit of the procedure.

The accuracy of an ultrasound depends on the professionalism of the attending doctor, how modern and expensive the equipment is, as well as on the number of fetuses, their position relative to each other, whether the young mother is obese, and other factors.

The 3rd examination at 32–34 weeks is used to detect abnormalities that appear late in pregnancy. At 32–34 weeks, additional procedures are performed (Doppler ultrasound, cardiotocography), which have their own indications and are aimed at assessing the condition of the fetus in the womb and predicting (forecasting) possible complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

As a specialist, I want to warn you: don't rush! First, it is extremely rare for doctors to recommend an ultrasound solely to determine the baby's sex.

Medical indications for determining the sex include: the possibility of hereditary X-linked diseases (for example, hemophilia — a blood-clotting disorder) that affect only boys; the need to detect certain genetic conditions; identifying twins. Second, according to international standards, fetal ultrasound is performed at strictly defined times.

The first of these is 12-13 weeks. At this stage, gross malformations are detected (absence of limbs, of the brain, etc.). The next ultrasound is performed at 23-25 weeks, when the anatomy of the fetal organs is best visible. Finally, the last ultrasound is done in a full-term pregnancy, when it is advisable to assess the maturity of the placenta, the amount of amniotic fluid and the weight of the fetus.

The accuracy of determining the baby's sex depends, above all, on the stage of pregnancy and, unfortunately, on the specialist's experience. Until the 8th week of development, the embryo's genitals are not differentiated. Their formation is completed by 10-12 weeks of pregnancy. But don't pester the doctor with the standard question "What am I having?" at the first ultrasound (at 12-13 weeks). According to most scientists, identifying the baby's sex is only possible from the 15th week of pregnancy. A boy is identified by detecting the scrotum and penis; a girl by visualizing the labia majora. One of the errors in identifying the baby's sex is mistaking a loop of the umbilical cord or the fetus's fingers for a penis. Sometimes girls have swelling of the labia in the womb, which resolves over time and is mistakenly taken for a scrotum. There are also cases when the fetus "hides" its manhood behind tightly closed legs and, out of excessive modesty, gets "called" a girl.

The best time to answer the long-awaited question is 23-25 weeks of pregnancy. The fetus is quite active, and with the patient persistence of the ultrasound doctor it will most likely show who it is. In a full-term pregnancy (from 37 weeks), determining the baby's sex can be difficult because of its large size and limited movement.

I am often asked: can the baby's sex be determined not visually, by ultrasound (as we have seen, this method can hardly be called infallible), but by some more reliable method? My answer: yes, it can. In cases where the birth of a boy or a girl in the family is ruled out for medical reasons (see above), the baby's sex is determined early (7-10 weeks) by chorionic villus sampling (chorionic biopsy). A thin needle is used to take a microscopic amount of the uterine contents to determine the fetal chromosome set. In this case, the sex of the embryo is established with practically 100% certainty. However, performing this procedure only to find out the future baby's sex is not safe: it can cause a miscarriage!

In conclusion, I want to remind dear dads and moms: it is not you, not the doctor and not the ultrasound that decides whether your family will be joined by a boy or a girl.

The main thing is to love, from the very first days after conception, the little person who will very soon enter your life, and even before birth to do everything possible to make his or her life as happy as possible.

To get high-quality results from an ultrasound examination of the internal organs, you need to prepare properly for the procedure. In this article we will look at the basic rules for preparing for an ultrasound.

Preparing for an abdominal ultrasound

The ultrasound is performed on an empty stomach, so you should avoid eating for 8-12 hours before the procedure. If the examination cannot be done in the morning, a light breakfast is allowed.

For 2-3 days before the procedure, follow this diet: exclude foods that increase gas in the intestines (raw vegetables and fruits, rye bread, whole milk, legumes, carbonated drinks, sauerkraut, kvass, high-calorie confectionery such as cakes and pastries).

Before the procedure, take medicines that reduce intestinal gas (if there are no contraindications): "Mezym", "Festal", "Espumisan", activated charcoal, etc. Consult your doctor before use.

Smoking is not recommended before the examination. If you are taking any medications, let the ultrasound doctor know. The examination cannot be performed after gastroscopy or colonoscopy.

Preparing for a pelvic ultrasound (bladder, uterus and adnexa in women, prostate and seminal vesicles in men)

A transabdominal (through the abdomen) examination is performed with a full bladder, so you should not urinate for 3-4 hours before the examination and should drink 1 L of still (non-carbonated) liquid (tea, fruit drink, water) 1-1.5 hours before the procedure. If you cannot hold it and the urge is strong, you may partially empty your bladder to relieve the pressure and then drink a little more liquid so that the bladder is full by the time of the examination.

No special preparation is required for a transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS), but it is recommended to have the examination with an empty bowel; this examination is also used, among other things, to detect early pregnancy.

Before a transrectal ultrasound of the prostate (TRUS), you need a cleansing enema of 1.5 liters. In the morning, empty your bowels if necessary. Empty your bladder before the examination. This examination is not done on an empty stomach, so you can eat and drink on the day of the procedure.

Preparing for an ultrasound of the bladder and prostate in men The examination is performed with a full bladder, so you should not urinate for 3-4 hours before the examination and should drink 1 L of still liquid 1 hour before the procedure.

Preparing for a kidney ultrasound The kidneys can be examined without special preparation. It is recommended to have the examination when intestinal gas is reduced (see above).

If the patient is overweight or has increased intestinal gas, preparation should be the same as for an abdominal ultrasound.

Preparing for a breast ultrasound

A breast examination is best performed during the first 10 days of the menstrual cycle.

MEDXPERT Diagnostic Center (Ultrasound), Osh

Did you know that sound waves and ultrasound waves travel through a medium at the same speed? The speed of ultrasound in human tissue ranges from approximately 1490 to 1610 m/s, i.e. it hardly differs from the speed of ultrasound in water.

Ultrasound diagnostics (ultrasound) is a modern and safe method of visually examining a person's internal organs and tissues using ultrasound waves. It produces detailed and accurate images, which makes it an essential part of medical diagnosis. At the MEDXPERT diagnostic center in Osh, we offer high-quality ultrasound services, providing accurate and reliable results for our patients.

Ultrasound diagnostics is based on the interaction of ultrasound waves with body tissues. To perform the examination, specialists use a special ultrasound device called an ultrasound scanner. The doctor applies gel to the patient's skin over the area to be examined and places the scanner's probe on that area. The probe emits ultrasound waves into the tissues, which are reflected from internal organs and tissues back to the probe. The scanner records the reflected waves and sends the information to a computer, where it is processed. The processing produces a detailed image of the internal organs and tissues, which is displayed on the screen and allows the doctor to make a diagnosis and assess the patient's condition.

The MEDXPERT diagnostic center in Osh offers a wide range of ultrasound services using state-of-the-art equipment and highly qualified specialists. Our team consists of experienced ultrasound doctors with extensive experience in performing and interpreting ultrasound examinations. We strive to provide our patients with the highest quality of care and accurate results.

At the MEDXPERT diagnostic center, ultrasound can be used to examine various organs and body systems. We perform ultrasound scans of the abdominal organs, bladder, kidneys, liver, pancreas and more. Ultrasound can also be useful for examining the heart, blood vessels, soft tissues and many other conditions. Our specialists examine every patient carefully and thoroughly, paying particular attention to detail to ensure the most accurate and complete diagnosis.

If you need an ultrasound in Osh, contact the MEDXPERT diagnostic center. Our team of specialists will do everything possible to provide you with an accurate diagnosis and high-quality care. Contact us today to schedule your examination and get the greatest benefit for your health.

Doppler velocimetry is an examination of the volume and intensity of blood flow in the baby's vessels, the placenta, the umbilical cord and the mother's uterine vessels. These examinations are performed on ordinary ultrasound machines equipped with special modules for this purpose. They are combined with standard ultrasound examinations.

The results of this method provide information about the state of blood flow and indicate the condition of the fetus. Later in pregnancy, after 30 weeks, Doppler ultrasound becomes a desirable part of any ultrasound examination.

Indications for a Doppler ultrasound include:

• fetal size not matching the gestational age
• maternal conditions (diabetes mellitus, abnormal blood pressure, kidney disease)
• abnormal amniotic fluid volume, premature maturation of the placenta, etc.

Remember! Good blood flow values on Doppler are among the reliable signs of normal fetal development, but they do not rule out various complications developing later in pregnancy. Impaired fetal blood flow requires especially careful monitoring, including in hospital.

Down syndrome is a fairly common chromosomal abnormality. Among newborns, the risk of Down syndrome is about 1 in 800 children. Like other chromosomal syndromes, Down syndrome occurs randomly and cannot be cured. In the early stage, the condition may cause delayed mental development in the child, accompanied by developmental abnormalities. Down syndrome is also associated with metabolic and immune disorders.

This diagnosis can only be made by laboratory analysis of material obtained during an invasive procedure. That is, if there is a risk of Down syndrome, a puncture through the mother's abdomen (amniocentesis) must be performed to obtain placental cells, amniotic fluid or fetal blood. Analysis of this material makes it possible to establish the chromosome set and diagnose fetal chromosomal abnormalities in 100% of cases.

An invasive procedure can sometimes lead to pregnancy loss, so it cannot be performed on absolutely every woman. Among all mothers, those with an increased risk of having a baby with abnormalities need to be identified.

It must be stressed once again that the condition can occur randomly in healthy families where no one has had it before.

No matter at what stage it is performed, ultrasound cannot detect "abnormalities in the child's mental development". Ultrasound (both 2D and 3D) helps identify chromosomal markers, such as the thickness of the "nuchal zone" (nuchal translucency), the length of the nasal bone and others.

Factors that increase the risk of a chromosomal disorder in the baby include:

• changes in the chromosome structure in one of the partners;
• certain signs detected on ultrasound;
• maternal age over 35;
• abnormal levels of AFP, hCG or PAPP-A in the mother's blood;
• a previous child born with Down syndrome.

Ultrasound cannot diagnose Down syndrome! This method only makes it possible to suspect it.

Nevertheless, identifying and detecting Down syndrome is generally a difficult task. Unfortunately, at present at least fifty percent of cases of this syndrome are missed during pregnancy and detected only after birth.

To improve the detection of Down syndrome and reduce the likelihood of an undesirable course of the disease, ultrasound examinations should be performed between twelve and fourteen weeks. This makes it possible to identify the risk group and take timely action.

An invasive procedure is a puncture of the amniotic cavity performed through the anterior abdominal wall under ultrasound guidance. Its purpose is to obtain material for further analysis of the chromosome set, as well as of certain genes.

This procedure is used only when there are strict medical indications, because the risk of pregnancy loss is approximately 2% (2 in 100).

In all cases (except when there is a threat of miscarriage), this medical procedure does not require hospitalization.

MEDXPERT Diagnostic Center (Ultrasound), Osh