Ultrasound
When you need an ultrasound, look to Montage Health for expert care. Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula is accredited in ultrasound by the American College of Radiology. You’ll benefit from qualified staff, advanced equipment, and proper procedures that lead to accurate results.
What is ultrasound?
Ultrasound (sonogram) devices make gentle sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. This technology doesn’t use radiation, so it’s very safe.
Types of ultrasound
Your doctor may order one of these tests that use ultrasound:
- Abdominal ultrasound – Looks at the organs and tissues in your belly
- Automated breast ultrasound – Screens for breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue
- Biopsy – Uses ultrasound imaging to help a doctor find the right spot in your body to take a sample of unusual tissue for testing in a lab
- Doppler ultrasound – Records movement, such as blood flow, a heartbeat, or the movement of an unborn baby (fetus)
- Echocardiogram – Shows the heart’s shape and movement
- Pregnancy ultrasound – Checks the health of an unborn baby
- Pelvic ultrasound – Looks for problems in the bladder or internal sex organs
Extended hours and Saturday appointments
Take advantage of convenient hours for ultrasound tests at Community Hospital and Carol Hatton Breast Care Center. You can schedule from early morning to early evening and on Saturdays with fewer interruptions to your school, work, or family routine.
What to expect
Learn what to expect before, during, and after your ultrasound exam.
How to prepare
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your exam. You may receive a gown to put on during the test.
Follow any instructions your care team gives you about changing your eating and drinking habits before the ultrasound.
During your ultrasound
You’ll likely lie on your back on an exam table. For most ultrasound exams, a technologist will:
- Spread a colorless, water-based gel on your skin
- Press a handheld wand to your skin and move it back and forth across a small area while taking pictures
Depending on what your doctor needs to see, you may instead receive an ultrasound test that places a probe inside your body:
- Transesophageal echocardiogram, which shows the back of the heart
- Transvaginal ultrasound, which looks at the ovaries, uterus, or other female pelvic organs
You can sometimes see your ultrasound images in real time during the exam. Most tests last 30 minutes to one hour.
After your exam
Return to your daily activities after most ultrasound appointments. If you had a sedative (relaxation medicine) before a transesophageal echocardiogram, you’ll receive special instructions for your recovery.
