How long does an ultrasound show pregnancy?

Probably every woman who wants to have a baby wants to find out as soon as possible whether she managed to get pregnant or not. As everyone knows, pregnancy tests and hCG analyzes have a certain error, therefore, the most accurate way to determine pregnancy is considered an ultrasound scan (hereinafter referred to as ultrasound). But how long does an ultrasound show pregnancy? When is the best time to go to research to get reliable information that a new life is emerging within you?

Types of ultrasound and their accuracy

To determine the presence of pregnancy, ultrasound of the organs is usually performed in the pelvis. To date, several types of ultrasound are used: transrectal, transvaginal, transabdominal and combined. Transrectal is performed on girls who do not yet have sex. Instead of the vagina, with this ultrasound, the sensor is inserted into the anus. But we are interested in the rest of the species, since we want to find out at what period the ultrasound determines pregnancy.

Most accurate

The most accurate of all is the transvaginal type. In its process, a sensor on which a condom is previously put on is inserted into the vagina. There should be a completely empty bladder to get the most accurate result. This type of ultrasound can only be done early in pregnancy. In general, talking about how long an ultrasound scan shows a pregnancy is quite difficult, because it depends on many factors.

Less accurate

The transabdominal view of the ultrasound suggests that the study is done through the abdominal wall (front). If such a study is performed in a girl who is not pregnant, then her bladder should be full. If this type of ultrasound is performed at a later date, then it is not so necessary to fill the bladder. The accuracy of the transabdominal type of ultrasound is slightly lower.

Combined ultrasound involves a combination of transvaginal and transabdominal species. It is easy to guess that in order for an ultrasound to determine whether you are pregnant or not as early as possible, it is necessary to use a transvaginal type of ultrasound.

How long does an ultrasound show pregnancy?

The egg in which the fetus develops during transvaginal ultrasound should be noticeable already at 3 weeks of gestation. As for the level of hCG, it should be more than 1800 units. If a fetal egg in the uterus was not found with such a hCG level , then this may be an ectopic pregnancy. What to do in such a situation, only a doctor can decide.

Are there any errors?

Even ultrasound has its own degree of error. How long an ultrasound scan shows a pregnancy depends on whether ovulation arrived on time and on the exact date of conception. As a rule, such details cannot be determined, so the error can be large. On ultrasound, for example, a fetal egg will be visible not after five weeks, but a little later, although the period will be quite accurate for the last menstruation.

For these reasons, it is somewhat difficult to answer the question of interest to many about how long an ultrasound scan shows pregnancy. For some, it will be determined already in 3 weeks, and for someone - in 7 weeks. If the ultrasound did not determine the pregnancy, but, in your opinion, it should have been, then you should not be upset. Nevertheless, even ultrasound can not be completely perfect, except that, as we found out, they have a certain degree of subjectivity.