If you’ve ever gone for an ultrasound scan you’ve probably been told by the sonographer or nurse that you need to have a full bladder in order to carry out the scan. One of the most common questions we get asked is “why do I need a full bladder for my ultrasound scan?”. Don’t worry, there is a reason for this and a very good one.
How Ultrasound Works
Ultrasound was developed many many years ago. It was first used by a man called Karl Dussik for medical reasons in 1942 which he used to try and detect brain tumours in the human skull. An adaptation of ultrasound was also being used by submarines in the navy which is more commonly known now as sonar. Ultrasound works by emitting high frequency sound waves through the human body and when they hit an object they reflect back thus providing us with an image. These waves travel at different speeds throughout the body and like a submarine, work best in water. The following scans require a full bladder:- Pregnancy scans under 14 weeks
- Pelvic scans (also known as gynaecological, uterus or ovary scans)
- Urinary tract (also known as renal, kidney or bladder scans)