Abdominal ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to form pictures of your abdominal organs. It can help detect organ problems, such as gallstones, kidney stones, or liver disease.

It can show whether your fetus has signs of some birth defects. This test is done between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy.

First, the fetus is located with ultrasound. A thin needle is then inserted into your belly. The doctor keeps the needle from touching the fetus by watching the screen.

A bone density study helps diagnose osteoporosis (bone thinning). Scans of your lower back, hip, or forearm are taken to measure the amount of calcium (density) in your bones. Calcium is the mineral that makes up your bones.

A bone scan is an imaging test that uses a special camera to form images of your bones. It is used to diagnose bone problems, such as fractures, cancer, or infections, and joint problems such as arthritis. It is also used to check joint replacements.

Percutaneous breast biopsies can be done in a doctor’s office or in an outpatient setting. A needle or special probe is used to remove samples through the skin.

Your yearly checkup should include a clinical breast exam. This exam may be done by a gynecologist, family doctor, nurse practitioner, or specially trained nurse. Yearly breast exams help to ensure that breast conditions are found early.

A flap procecure uses your own tissue to form the shape of a breast. There are two kinds of flap procedures: the TRAM flap and the LD flap.

Your surgeon can help you decide whether to have reconstructive surgery. You will be advised to wait if now is not the best time for you. Breast reconstruction can be done during or after a mastectomy. One kind of reconstruction is the breast implant. A sac of fluid is inserted during surgery to re-form the shape of a breast.

Colposcopy is a procedure that gives your healthcare provider a magnified view of the cervix. It is done using a lighted microscope called a colposcope. In most cases, a sample of cervical cells is taken during a biopsy.

Many reproductive organ surgeries are done using laparoscopy. Most often, the goal of surgery is to detect and sometimes treat a problem. The following are common reasons for doing laparoscopy.

A cone biopsy is a quick outpatient surgery used to find and treat a problem in the cervix. Your doctor may do a cone biopsy if one or more Pap tests and a colposcopy (microscope) exam showed abnormal cells on your cervix.

Cervical cryotherapy (also called “cryosurgery” or “cryoablation”) is a procedure that removes abnormal cells from the cervix. It’s most often done in the doctor’s office, and only takes a few minutes. During cryotherapy, tissue that includes the abnormal cells is frozen. This tissue is destroyed.

CVS is a test that helps you learn if a fetus has health problems. The test is most often done between weeks 9 and 11 of pregnancy.

Endometrial ablation is an outpatient surgery that can reduce or stop heavy uterine bleeding. Treatment takes less than an hour, and you can go home later that day.

Endometrial biopsy is a procedure used to study the lining of the uterus. It is usually done in your healthcare provider’s office.

A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman’s uterus. It can relieve such symptoms as severe pain and bleeding. If you have cancer, it may save your life.

HSG is an X-ray test used to view your reproductive organs. This can help diagnose why you are unable to get pregnant.

Hysteroscopy is a procedure that allows your healthcare provider to see inside your uterus. Diagnostic hysteroscopy can help find the causes of problems in the uterus.

Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure is an effective outpatient treatment for abnormal cell growth. A fine wire loop with a special high-frequency current allows your doctor to precisely remove the abnormal tissue from your cervix.

Lumpectomy is surgery to remove cancer. It's a breast-conserving surgery, which means your breast remains intact. If you're having a lumpectomy, you'll probably also have radiation therapy.

Schedule the test for one week after your period, when your breasts are less tender. Make sure your clinic gets your last mammogram if it was done somewhere else. This lets the doctor compare the two.

Remind your technologist that you have breast implants. Also mention if you are or think you might be pregnant, have had a breast biopsy or surgery, are breastfeeding or have moles on or near your breasts.

Mastectomy is surgery to remove the breast. The most commonly done mastectomies are called simple and modified radical. During these procedures, the chest muscle is not removed. As a result, arm strength remains. Keeping the chest muscle also makes reconstruction easier.

Myomectomy is a surgical procedure to remove uterine fibroids. This procedure may preserve your uterus and your ability to have children.

Nonstress and contraction stress testing checks whether your baby is getting enough oxygen and nutrients from your blood.

For 48 hours before the test, do not douche, use vaginal medications or creams. For 24 hours before, do not have sexual intercourse.

Cystocele is when the bladder sags into the vagina. The goal of surgery is to repair the problem and relieve your symptoms. Your surgery may include one or more repairs.

Urinary incontinence (urine leakage) can be treated during pelvic organ prolapse surgery. The goal of surgery is to hold the urethra and bladder firmly in place to prevent leakage and relieve your symptoms.

Rectocele is when the rectum bulges into the vagina. Enterocele is when the small intestine bulges into the vagina. The goal of surgery is to repair the problem and relieve your symptoms.

Uterine prolapse is when the uterus drops into the vagina. In severe cases, the uterus can protrude from the vagina. The goal of surgery is to repair the problem and relieve your symptoms.

Vaginal vault prolapse is when the walls of the vagina fall in on themselves. This can happen after the uterus has been removed.

Pelvic ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to form pictures of your organs. It can help assess pain or other symptoms within your pelvis. And in pregnant women, it is used to check the health of the fetus.

During ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves pass through your body and your baby. You can’t hear the sound waves, but the ultrasound equipment can.

Among the conditions where hysterectomy is used are endometriosis, fibroids, pelvic relaxation and cancer.

If you have Rh negative blood, your fetus may be at risk for health problems. This is true only if the fetus has Rh positive blood. A simple test followed by treatment can help prevent problems.

Stereotactic breast biopsy is used to take tiny samples of your breast tissue that can be studied under a microscope. This procedure uses x-rays to find the tissue to be removed.

A surgical breast biopsy requires an incision in the skin. This allows your doctor to take a large sample of tissue from the breast. In fact, the whole lump is often removed.

When your Pap test is sent to the lab, the lab studies your cell samples and reports any abnormal cell changes. Your healthcare provider can discuss these changes with you. In some cases, an abnormal Pap test is due to an infection.

Transvaginal ultrasound uses a special probe that is placed directly into the vagina. This gives a clearer picture of the uterus, ovaries, and other pelvic organs. This test can be used to assess symptoms such as pain and to check for problems. In pregnant women, it is used to check the fetus.

Collagen implants are one method to help treat incontinence due to a weak sphincter. Collagen is a protein naturally found in the body of animals and humans. Implantinganimal collagen into your urethra may help close the sphincter and restore most or all of your control over urine flow.

Many different types of treatment are available to help manage IC symptoms and relieve pain. Some may work well for one person and not for another, so several types of treatment may be tried before you and your doctor determine the plan that’s best for you.

Several surgical procedures are used to treat breast cancer. The goal of each is to remove the cancer. Based on medical factors and your own feelings, you and your surgeon will decide which approach may be best for you.

If you decide on hysterectomy, your doctor may suggest using a type of surgery called laparoscopy. This method has many benefits compared to open surgery. These include a faster recovery and less time in the hospital.

Epidural is a kind of anesthetic (medication to block pain). It is commonly used during labor and delivery. During an epidural, anesthetic is injected into the area around your lower spine. An anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist starts the epidural and monitors you throughout your procedure.

During a sentinel node breast biopsy, your surgeon removes the first lymph node or nodes that cancer could reach. These are screened to see if cancer cells have traveled out of the breast.