What to expect during an abdominal ultrasound

You will usually lie on an examination couch and uncover the area being scanned. The sonographer may ask you to turn onto one side, change your breathing, or hold your breath briefly so an organ can be seen from a better angle. The gel can feel cool, and probe pressure may be uncomfortable over a tender spot, but you can ask the sonographer to pause.

The images can help assess the size, shape, position, and appearance of abdominal organs and may identify findings such as gallstones, kidney stones, fluid collections, or widened vessels. Ultrasound does not use ionising radiation. Sound waves return differently from fluid, soft tissue, and dense material, allowing the machine to build a live image.

Not every structure is visible in every person. Bowel gas, body build, tenderness, and the position of an organ can limit the view. A limited image does not by itself establish that a problem is present; the requesting clinician interprets the report alongside your symptoms and other tests.

Follow the exact preparation provided with the booking. Depending on the target area, you may be asked to avoid food or arrive with a full bladder. Wear clothing that allows easy access to the abdomen and bring any requested referral details or previous imaging information.

After an uncomplicated external ultrasound, you can wipe away the gel and usually return to normal activities immediately. The person performing the scan may not be able to discuss a diagnosis on the spot. Ask when and how the clinician who requested the examination will share the formal report.

Get urgent medical help for sudden severe abdominal pain, pain with fainting or breathing difficulty, a hard and swollen abdomen, vomiting blood, black or bloody stool, repeated vomiting with inability to keep fluids down, or new yellow skin or eyes with significant illness. An ultrasound appointment is not a substitute for urgent assessment when red-flag symptoms develop.

Ask which organs the scan is intended to assess, whether you should change food or fluid intake, and what medicines to take that day. Afterward, ask whether the images answered the clinical question, who will explain any finding, and whether another examination is needed if part of the abdomen could not be seen clearly.