Preparation for Your Ultrasound Scan
Most scans need little or no preparation — but for the ones that do, the right preparation is the difference between a clear answer and a repeat visit. Find your scan below; your booking confirmation also includes the exact instructions for your appointment.
How to prepare, scan by scan
| Scan | Preparation |
|---|---|
| Abdominal ultrasound (liver, gallbladder, pancreas) | Fast for 6 hours before your appointment — nothing to eat; small sips of water are fine. Fasting empties the stomach and keeps the gallbladder distended so it can be assessed properly. |
| Pelvic ultrasound — transabdominal | Arrive with a comfortably full bladder — finish drinking water about an hour before and don't empty it. A full bladder lifts the bowel away and acts as a window to the pelvic organs. |
| Pelvic ultrasound — transvaginal | Empty your bladder just before the scan — the opposite of the transabdominal approach. First time? Read what to expect at a transvaginal scan. |
| Pregnancy scans | Early pregnancy scans are clearest with a comfortably full bladder; from the second trimester no preparation is usually needed. Your confirmation states which applies to your week. |
| Kidneys, ureters & bladder (urinary tract) | A comfortably full bladder — same routine as a transabdominal pelvic scan — so the bladder and its outflow can be assessed before and after emptying. |
| MSK / joint scans (shoulder to foot) | No preparation needed. Wear clothing that gives easy access to the joint — a vest top for shoulders, shorts for knees — and be ready to move it: dynamic assessment is part of the scan. |
| Testicular, breast, thyroid, lumps & bumps, vascular | No preparation needed — arrive as you are. |
| Fertility scans (follicle tracking, AFC) | No physical preparation — timing is the preparation. Call with your cycle dates and we will book the right day; transvaginal approach, so an empty bladder on arrival. |
What to bring, wear and expect — whatever your scan
Bring: any relevant previous imaging reports or referral letters if you have them (useful, never required), and a list of questions if you have specific worries — there is time to ask. Wear: comfortable, two-piece clothing; you will only ever be asked to uncover the area being scanned, and modesty covers are always used. Medication: take your usual medicines as normal — fasting for an abdominal scan does not mean skipping tablets; take them with a small sip of water. Timing: arrive around ten minutes early; most scans take 30 minutes including the discussion of findings. A partner or friend is welcome at every appointment. If you cannot manage your preparation — fasting is difficult, a full bladder is uncomfortable, mobility is limited — call us on 0203 051 6506 and we will adapt the plan rather than cancel the scan.
Ready for your visit? Read what to expect during your appointment, how results and reports reach you, and our frequently asked questions.
Author: Yianni Kiromitis, Senior Sonographer, HCPC RA38415.
Medically reviewed by: Yianni Kiromitis, Senior Sonographer, HCPC RA38415 — 24 July 2026. Last reviewed: 24 July 2026.