Ultrasound

  How soon after conception is it possible to see anything in the uterus using vaginal ultrasound?   I saw my Dr a few days ago and as I didn't have a date for my last menstrual period he did an ultrasound but couldn't find anything. I was only 2 weeks and 2 days after conception by my calculations. Is it realistic to expect to see anything this early?
Dear Angela:
Transvaginal ultrasound machines are not all the same: some can discriminate detail better than others. The working rule is 6 weeks from last menstrual period and 4 weeks from conception is the time when an ultrasound study is likely to shows a fetus with cardiac motion.
Less sophistocated machinery may requre a wait until 7 weeks from last menstrual period and the newest equipment may be positive 5.5 weeks from last menstrual period.
Before one sees the fetal heart, one sees the "gestational sac", the "fetal pole", and the "yolk sac" However, an heartbeat for most ladies is the reassurance they seek. It is also the information that predicts ">90% likelihood" for a healthy ending to the pregnancy.
Keywords: early ultrasound, pregnancy
This information is provided for education purposes only and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please contact yourphysician.