Ultrasound is an indispensable part of our practice.  Images of pelvic structures including the uterus and ovaries are viewed using instruments placed either painlessly on the abdomen or in the vagina with minimal discomfort.  There is no radiation associated with this procedure.

We can also evaluate for the timing of ovulation and check for early pregnancy and ovarian cysts using ultrasound.  Ultrasound is also crucial for following the growth of follicles when ovarian stimulation medications are given.  Follicles are fluid-filled spaces that look like black circles on the screen of the ultrasound machine.  They typically each contain an egg, which is invisible by ultrasound.  The physician makes determinations as to the development of the egg by the size of the follicle.  This can be combined with estradiol (estrogen) tests because healthy follicles produce this hormone.

Our ultrasound machines have 3-D capability so that we can obtain images of superior resolution.

We can combine a vaginal ultrasound with a technique called Saline Infusion Sonography (SIS) whereby a small amount of fluid is injected into the uterus during the ultrasound to determine whether any fibroids or polyps are present inside the cavity that might compromise fertility.  The SIS can also be used to assess whether at least 1 of the Fallopian tube is open.