An ultrasound picture is formed using sound waves, which are passed through the uterus and reflected back as an image. In most routine ultrasound scans, a special gel is spread on the lower abdomen (towards the bottom of your tummy) and then the scanner is moved over this until the uterus (womb) and pregnancy can be seen. If the pregnancy is smaller than about 10 weeks, or if it is difficult to get a clear picture with an abdominal scan, you may have a vaginal scan, where a probe is placed in the vagina.
There is no evidence that having a vaginal or an abdominal scan will cause a miscarriage or harm the pregnancy. If you bleed after a vaginal scan, it will most likely be because there was already blood pooled higher in the vagina and this was dislodged by the procedure.

Routine scans
Early scans
Other investigations

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