Preparation for Your Ultrasound Scan
Most scans need little or no preparation. For the few that do, getting it right is the difference between a clear answer and a repeat visit. Find your scan below — your booking confirmation also carries the exact instructions for your appointment.
CQC-registered clinic · Provider ID 1-2775844974 · HCPC-registered sonographers
How to prepare, scan by scan
| Scan | Preparation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal ultrasound liver, gallbladder, pancreas |
Fast for at least 4 hours. No food, no milky or sugared drinks. Clear water is encouraged. | Eating empties the gallbladder. Scanned collapsed, it can hide small stones that are obvious when it is full. |
| Pelvic ultrasound transabdominal |
Arrive with a comfortably full bladder. Finish drinking about an hour before and do not empty it. | A full bladder pushes bowel gas aside and acts as an acoustic window onto the pelvic organs. |
| Pelvic ultrasound transvaginal |
Empty your bladder just before the scan — the opposite of the transabdominal approach. | The probe sits close to the organs, so a full bladder gets in the way rather than helping. First time? Read what to expect. |
| Pregnancy scans | Early 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 of pregnancy. |
| Kidneys, ureters & bladder | A comfortably full bladder — the same routine as a transabdominal pelvic scan. | The bladder is assessed both full and after emptying, which measures how well it empties. |
| MSK and joint scans shoulder to foot |
No preparation needed. Wear clothing giving easy access to the joint — a vest top for shoulders, shorts for knees. | Be ready to move the joint. Dynamic assessment while you move it is part of the examination. |
| Testicular, breast, thyroid, lumps & bumps, vascular | No preparation needed — arrive as you are. | These are surface structures, unaffected by eating or bladder filling. |
| 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 arrive with an empty bladder. |
What to bring, wear and expect
Bring
Any previous imaging reports or a referral letter 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 used throughout.
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 about ten minutes early. Most appointments are 30 minutes including the discussion of findings; well-man and well-woman packages take around an hour. A partner or friend is welcome.
Fasting is not safe for everyone, a full bladder can be genuinely uncomfortable, and mobility varies. If you are diabetic, take small sips of a sugary drink during the fast and bring food for immediately afterwards — and tell us at booking so we can schedule you earlier in the day. Whatever the obstacle, ring 0203 051 6506 and we will adapt the plan rather than lose your appointment.
The rest of your visit
Arrival, the examination itself, chaperones, and how findings are discussed with you in the room.
Read next →
AfterResults & ReportsVerbal findings at the scan, written report usually within two hours, and how to share it.
How results reach you →
PracticalFrequently Asked QuestionsReferrals, payment, partners, parking — the practical questions answered before you ask.
Read the FAQs →
Prepared and ready?
Findings explained at your appointment by the clinician scanning you, and a written report usually within two hours.
Kensington, London W8 4ED
3 mins from Notting Hill Gate
Written and clinically reviewed by the HCPC-registered sonographers who perform these scans at IUS London — a CQC-registered diagnostic ultrasound clinic (Provider ID 1-2775844974). Your own findings are explained to you at the scan and set out in your report.
Author: Yianni Kiromitis, Senior Sonographer, HCPC RA38415
Medically reviewed: 31 July 2026