Which gynecological ultrasound you need
"I need an ultrasound" begins half the phone calls, and a pause almost always follows: which one? There are four gynecological examinations, they answer different questions, they are done on different days of the cycle and they cost different amounts. Here is which one fits your situation — and what ultrasound will not show at all.
In short: which one for what
| Examination | What question it answers | Cycle day | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelvic ultrasound | the state of the uterus, endometrium and ovaries: fibroids, cysts, polyps, endometrial thickness | 5–10 | 250 zł |
| Breast ultrasound | what a lump in the breast is: cyst, fibroadenoma, lymph node | 5–12 | 250 zł |
| Pregnancy ultrasound | whether the pregnancy is in the uterus, how many embryos, how far along, how the baby is growing | not relevant | 250 zł |
| Folliculometry | whether ovulation happens and when exactly it happens for you | several visits per cycle | 150 zł per visit |
Not knowing which one you need is normal and takes a minute of conversation to settle at the visit. A consultation together with a pelvic scan is 450 zł instead of 540 separately, so booking the combined appointment is usually the better value.
Pelvic ultrasound
The most common and the most informative. It looks at the uterus, its lining (the endometrium) and the ovaries. It is what finds the things that give no symptoms for years: fibroids, cysts, endometrial polyps.
It is done two ways, and they are not the same:
- transvaginally — the probe goes into the vagina. Closer to the organs, so the image is far more detailed. The bladder should be empty. This is the default;
- through the abdomen — the probe on the belly, through a full bladder. Lower resolution, but suitable for girls who are not sexually active, and needed for large masses and in later pregnancy.
The best window is days 5 to 10 of the cycle, counted from the first day of your period: the endometrium is thin and everything else shows against it. Preparation is covered in the article on getting ready for a pelvic scan. What ovarian findings mean is in the article on cysts.
Breast ultrasound
It answers the question "what is this lump": a cyst, a fibroadenoma, an altered lymph node. No radiation, 10–15 minutes, and it can be repeated as often as needed.
Before 40 the breast tissue is dense — nearly opaque on mammography, while ultrasound sees it well. So under 40 ultrasound is the primary method, and after 40 mammography under the age programme is added.
Book for days 5 to 12: before a period the breasts are swollen and tender and the picture is poorer. What BI-RADS means on a report is covered separately.
Pregnancy ultrasound
Here what matters is not the cycle day but the week of pregnancy. The first scan answers three questions on which everything else depends: whether the pregnancy is in the uterus, how many embryos there are, and how far along you are by the size of the embryo.
Before 5–6 weeks there is nothing to see — the gestational sac is not yet visible and the visit would have to be repeated. What becomes visible when is covered in the article on timing; why it is done so early is in the article on ectopic pregnancy.
After that come the screening scans of the Polish standard: 11–13+6 weeks, 18–22 and 28–32. How the whole of antenatal care works is in pregnancy care in Poland.
Folliculometry
Not one examination but a series of short ones: the doctor checks several times across the cycle whether the dominant follicle is growing and whether ovulation has happened. Each visit takes about ten minutes.
It is needed when your own ovulation matters rather than the calendar’s: when planning a pregnancy, with an irregular cycle, or when pharmacy tests give an unclear answer. A single visit is 150 zł, a package of three 450 and of four 600; the package is not a discount but the convenience of one booking.
Which day to start and how many visits to make is covered separately. What ovulation looks like on screen is here.
What ultrasound will not show
Worth knowing in advance, or the visit leaves the feeling that "nothing was checked". Ultrasound does not answer these questions:
- whether the fallopian tubes are open. That needs separate contrast studies;
- whether HPV is present and what the cervical cells look like. That is cytology and a virus test; ultrasound does not assess the cervix that way;
- what your hormone levels are. That is blood, not a picture;
- whether there is an infection. That is a swab and a culture;
- endometriosis in full. Ultrasound sees endometriotic ovarian cysts, but peritoneal deposits often not at all.
How to book
If you are unsure which scan you need, just say what is troubling you and we will settle it at the visit. You can book through the form on the booking page, by phone on +48 787 060 707, or on WhatsApp or Telegram — I call back within 15 minutes.
Appointments in Warsaw at ul. Głębocka 9, held in Polish, Russian and Ukrainian. The report is handed over the same day. No referral or NFZ insurance is needed and a PESEL number is not required. All prices are on the prices page.
Bring your previous ultrasound reports. One scan is a point, two are a trend. A comparison with last time often answers the question better than the most detailed image taken today.
Short answers
What ultrasound examinations does a gynecologist do?
Four different ones: pelvic ultrasound (uterus, endometrium, ovaries), breast ultrasound, pregnancy ultrasound and folliculometry — a series of short scans tracking ovulation. They answer different questions and are done on different days of the cycle.
Which day of the cycle is best for a pelvic ultrasound?
Days 5 to 10, counted from the first day of your period. The endometrium is thin then and the uterus and ovaries show clearly against it. After menopause the day does not matter. Breast ultrasound is done on days 5 to 12.
How does a transvaginal scan differ from an ordinary one?
A transvaginal scan uses a probe placed in the vagina: it is closer to the organs, so the image is far more detailed, and the bladder should be empty. An abdominal scan is done through the belly with a full bladder — lower resolution, but suitable for girls who are not sexually active and necessary for large masses and later pregnancy.
What does ultrasound not show?
Tubal patency, the presence of HPV and the state of cervical cells, hormone levels, the presence of infection, and endometriosis in full. Those need other tests: contrast studies, cytology, blood tests, a swab and a culture.
How much does an ultrasound cost in Warsaw?
Pelvic, breast and pregnancy ultrasound are 250 zł each and folliculometry 150 zł per visit. A consultation together with a pelvic scan is 450 zł instead of 540 booked separately. No referral or NFZ insurance is needed.
Sources
The primary sources this text rests on. Links open in a new tab.
- Rekomendacje Polskiego Towarzystwa Ginekologów i PołożnikówPTGiP — the standard of care in Poland; my skills certificate is issued under the same rules
- International Ovarian Tumor Analysis — simple rules, ADNEXthe international IOTA group — the rules for describing ovarian masses
- Breast Imaging Reporting & Data System (BI-RADS)American College of Radiology — the BI-RADS 0–6 scale that appears in the report
This text describes the general picture and does not replace a consultation. Timings and indications differ from woman to woman and are decided at the appointment, from your history and test results.
