Care · Ultrasound

Pregnancy and pelvic ultrasound: at the practice, on a high-definition system dedicated to women's and fetal imaging, in Paris 16th

Ultrasound is the imaging examination of gynecology and pregnancy: no X-rays, well tolerated. At the practice, 42 avenue Mozart, Dr Amel Mahdhi-Basli, OB-GYN, hospital practitioner and head of the antenatal diagnosis unit at the Saint-Denis Hospital Centre, performs all of the practice's ultrasound examinations — obstetric scans across the three trimesters, including twin pregnancies, growth scans and pelvic ultrasound — on the GE HealthCare Voluson™ Expert 22. Dr Chaima Gatri performs pelvic ultrasound during her consultation itself, as well as the early dating scan. English-speaking practice.

Who it is for

Pregnancy, uterus, ovaries, fertility: the indications

An ultrasound answers a precise question. At the practice, it is performed in four main situations.

Pregnancy care — the three recommended scans, in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters, and growth scans when monitoring calls for them.
Twin pregnancies — scans across the three trimesters and twin growth scans, by a sonographer who practices fetal medicine.
Pelvic ultrasound — uterus and ovaries: heavy periods, pain, fibroids, cysts, checking an IUD, bleeding after menopause.
Fertility monitoring — antral follicle count and ovulation monitoring, as part of the couple consultation.
3D, 4D and HDlive fetal imaging — a complement to the medical examination, which also gives images of the baby's face.

Wagram Clinic is designed so that you do not have to go anywhere else: ultrasound, colposcopy, hysteroscopy, laser and pelvic floor rehabilitation are all performed at the practice, as part of your ongoing care. Patients referred by their gynecologist or family doctor for an examination — ultrasound, colposcopy, hysteroscopy — are seen exactly like the practice's own patients, and leave with their report for the physician who follows them. Pelvic ultrasound is performed during the gynecological (gynaecological) consultation or at a dedicated appointment.

Book an appointment — Dr MAHDHI-BASLI

The examination

On a large screen, live, explained right away

Ultrasound uses sound waves, not X-rays. For pregnancy, the probe moves over the abdomen, with gel; for pelvic ultrasound, the examination is performed abdominally or, most often, transvaginally, with a fine, protected probe that comes as close as possible to the uterus and ovaries. All scans are performed on the GE HealthCare Voluson™ Expert 22, a high-definition ultrasound system dedicated to women's and fetal imaging: 2D, 3D, 4D and HDlive. Images are displayed on the room's 65-inch screen: you follow the examination with your physician, the result is explained to you immediately and you leave with the printed report, in a practice folder (video · Ultrasound).

A pregnancy scan requires no preparation; for pelvic ultrasound, preparation instructions are given to you when you book. Dr Mahdhi-Basli also sees patients in English.

The scans

From pregnancy to fertility, step by step

The three pregnancy scans — they are timed in weeks of pregnancy, counted from the first day of your last period. The first, around 12 weeks, dates the pregnancy, checks viability and the number of embryos, and measures the nuchal translucency as part of screening for trisomy 21. The second, around 22 weeks, is the anatomy scan: it examines the fetus's organs, the placenta and the amniotic fluid. The third, around 32 weeks, measures growth and checks the baby's position and that of the placenta.
Growth scans and twin pregnancies — between two reference scans, a growth scan measures the baby when monitoring calls for it. Twin pregnancies require closer monitoring; Dr Mahdhi-Basli (the team) performs twin scans across the three trimesters and twin growth scans (pregnancy care: see Obstetrics).
Pelvic ultrasound — it examines the uterus — size, shape, thickness of the endometrium, fibroids, polyps — and the ovaries — follicles, cysts —, checks the position of an IUD and looks for signs of endometriosis. Dr Gatri performs it during her medical gynecology consultation; Dr Mahdhi-Basli performs it as well.
Fertility monitoring — the antral follicle count scan, early in the cycle, assesses ovarian reserve; ovulation monitoring follows the growth of the follicle on dates set with the physician. Dr Gatri performs them as part of the couple consultation. She also performs, at the very start of pregnancy, the early dating scan, which is distinct from the 1st-trimester scan.

The information sheet of the French College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF), translated into English, is given to you at the consultation: pregnancy ultrasound information sheet. The ultrasound system is part of the practice's equipment.

Frequently asked questions

Your questions, our answers

When in pregnancy are the scans done?

Around 12, 22 and 32 weeks, counted from the first day of your last period — roughly the end of the 3rd, 5th and 7th months. The first has a precise window: book as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed.

Can I see the baby in 3D?

Yes. The Voluson Expert 22 produces 3D, 4D and HDlive images, which show the baby's face realistically. They are part of the medical examination, when the stage of pregnancy and the baby's position allow, and are displayed on the room's screen.

Do I need to fast or come with a full bladder?

Never fast. For a pregnancy scan, no preparation. For pelvic ultrasound, a full bladder for the abdominal route, an empty one for the transvaginal route: the instructions are given to you when you book.

Is ultrasound dangerous for the baby?

No. It uses sound waves, not X-rays, with no demonstrated harmful effect on the baby. The three pregnancy scans are recommended in every pregnancy.

My gynecologist or midwife is referring me for a pregnancy scan: how does it work?

You are seen exactly like the practice's own patients: the appointment is booked directly on Doctolib with Dr Mahdhi-Basli, for the first-, second- or third-trimester scan. The examination is explained as it happens and you leave with the printed report, for the physician or midwife following your pregnancy.

Why is a pelvic ultrasound done transvaginally?

Because the probe, fine and protected by a single-use sheath, is placed right next to the uterus and ovaries: the images are sharper than through the abdomen, particularly for the endometrium and small cysts. The examination is well tolerated.

Is it covered by health insurance?

Yes. Ultrasound examinations are covered by the French health insurance (Assurance maladie) under the usual sector 2 conditions, pregnancy scans under the conditions that apply to pregnancy care. The full picture is in “Fees and reimbursement”, further down.

How do I book?

On Doctolib, with Dr Mahdhi-Basli for pregnancy scans, and with Dr Gatri for pelvic ultrasound during the consultation, the early dating scan or fertility monitoring; or by telephone through the secretariat.