A day in the life of a Fertility Sonographer
Anne Hurleston, Ultrasound Manchester Fertility Services
Background:
The role of the Sonographer in a dedicated Fertility Clinic discussion around the variety of scans as well as the emotional support to the patient and their family.
The aim is to help sonographers based in hospitals without Fertility Units but who receive scan referrals from General Practitioners or Gynaecologists for patients with fertility issues and to give an insight into the journey a patient has experienced prior to their dating and anomaly obstetric scans.
Discussion:
Baseline Gynaecological Scan: Baseline trans-vaginal 2D and 3D ultrasound scan to ascertain a normal uterus and ovaries along with an antral follicle count (follicles between 2mm-10mm). The scan findings should correlate with the stage of the patient’s cycle and exclude pathologies.
Treatment Scans:
Scan to monitor ovarian follicles with 3D technology.
Monitoring endometrial thickness and the role ultrasound has to play in the thin endometrium by assessing the Resistive Index of the uterine arteries.
Embryo Transfer Scans:
The role of the sonographer as the patient prepares for an embryo transfer, the emotional support as well as trans-abdominal scanning to assist the transfer of the embryo by the Gynaecologist.
Pregnancy Scans:
The highs and lows of the early pregnancy scan usually performed around 7weeks gestation.
Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing:
Trans-abdominal scans performed after 10weeks gestation prior to a blood test.
The Male Patient:
Ultrasound assessment of the testes to exclude testicular masses, abnormal vascularity and varicocoele in the Andrology Department.
Case Reports:
Images include examples of 3D colour antral follicle count of an ovary, 3D colour view of a stimulated ovary and subsequent report graph. Images of 3D endometrial cavities including anomalies.