Can ultrasound help with fertility issues? Ultrasound & Fertility: How Imaging Supports Reproductive Health

If you’re trying to conceive and haven’t had success yet, your healthcare provider may recommend an ultrasound as part of your fertility assessment. Ultrasound imaging is a safe, painless, and effective way to check reproductive health, track ovulation, and guide fertility treatments. It gives your care team important information to help identify and address potential barriers to pregnancy.

How ultrasound supports fertility care

Ultrasound services are used in many stages of fertility testing and treatment. It allows your provider to see the ovaries, uterus, and surrounding structures in real time. This helps with:

• Detecting reproductive health issues such as ovarian cysts, fibroids, polyps, or structural abnormalities
  
  

• Tracking ovulation by monitoring follicle growth in the ovaries
  
  

• Assessing the uterine lining to ensure it’s ready for implantation
  
  

• Checking early pregnancy development in fertility treatment cycles
  
  

• Guiding fertility procedures like egg retrieval or embryo transfer in IVF

Types of fertility ultrasounds

Your provider may recommend one or both of the following:

• Transvaginal ultrasound – A small probe is inserted into the vagina to give a clear, detailed view of the reproductive organs. This is often used to monitor ovulation and evaluate ovarian health.
  
  

• Pelvic ultrasound – An external scan across the lower abdomen to check the uterus, ovaries, and pelvic structures.

How ovulation monitoring works

Ultrasound can track the size and development of ovarian follicles that release eggs during ovulation. This is useful for:

• Predicting your most fertile days
  
  

• Timing fertility treatments like intrauterine insemination (IUI)
  

• Adjusting medications during IVF to avoid overstimulation

Ultrasound’s role in IVF and fertility treatment

If you’re undergoing IVF or other assisted reproductive technologies, ultrasound is used to:

• Monitor your body’s response to fertility medications
  
  

• Determine the best time for egg retrieval
  
  

• Track embryo development and implantation success
  

• Detect possible complications early

What to expect during a fertility scan

• You may be asked to drink water before a pelvic scan to fill the bladder for clearer images
  
  

• For a transvaginal scan, you’ll lie on an exam table while a lubricated probe is gently inserted
  
  

• The procedure typically takes 15–30 minutes and has no downtime
  

• Images are reviewed immediately or shortly after to help guide your next steps

When to consider a fertility ultrasound

You may benefit from a fertility scan if you:

• Have been trying to conceive for 6–12 months without success
  
  

• Have irregular or absent periods
  
  

• Experience pelvic pain or unusual bleeding
  

• Are preparing for fertility treatments like IUI or IVF

While Canadian Diagnostic Network provides specialized care, many reputable clinics offer similar treatments. Always seek multiple opinions before deciding on treatment.

If you’re in Ottawa and want to better understand your reproductive health, you can book a fertility ultrasound or schedule a transvaginal scan with CDNcare to get clear answers. This imaging is a key step toward creating a personalized fertility plan that gives you the best chance of success.

More Information:

https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/cancer-care-ontario/programs/screening-programs/ontario-breast-obsp

https://oarinfo.ca/patient-info/radiology-medical-services/ultrasound