Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful times in the life of any woman. She blooms during this period and prepares for the long-awaited motherhood and for meeting the most dear person in her life - her baby. Of course, all this time she will have to work on herself in close contact with specialists who sometimes prescribe very incomprehensible examinations. Let's see how screening differs from ultrasound and what is better for the health of the expectant mother and her baby.
Definition
Ultrasound (ultrasound) is a unique opportunity to obtain images of internal organs. This is one of the most popular non-invasive research methods, it is based on the ability of ultrasound to obtain an accurate and clear picture of the examined organ and does not have an ionizing effect. That is why ultrasound can be done an unlimited number of times.
Screening during pregnancy (prenatal screening) is a comprehensive study. It includes biochemical and ultrasound studies that show the state of development of the fetus at a certain point. Biochemical screening is a comprehensive blood test that helps to detect the presence in the blood of markers that appear in certain genetic diseases (Edwards, Down syndrome and other neural tube pathologies). However, to establish a diagnosis, one biochemical screening is not enough, therefore, an ultrasound scan is performed along with it.
Comparison
As we have already found out, ultrasound is one of the most modern and safe research methods that allows you to easily determine the state of the organ of interest and establish an appropriate diagnosis. The ultrasound method is based on the principle of echolocation - special sensors emit ultrasonic vibrations, which are reflected from the examined organ and are received back by the same sensors. Based on the information received, the computer displays a picture of the object under study on the screen.
To determine the condition of the fetus and to exclude various genetic diseases, ultrasound is done several times throughout pregnancy, however, it is carried out in conjunction with biochemical studies. This test is called screening.
Screening is mandatory in the first and second trimester of pregnancy (sometimes additional screening is prescribed in the third trimester) and reveals almost all anatomical defects and abnormalities of the fetus. Prenatal screening includes several stages and provides reliable information about the development of the baby and about possible problems in his health. Prenatal screening today is considered to be one of the safest and most informative diagnostic tools. To these qualities can be added the possibility of mass use, which favorably distinguishes it from other modern means of prenatal diagnostics.
Conclusions TheDifference.ru
- Ultrasound is an ultrasound examination of internal organs, screening is a comprehensive study of the fetus, it includes ultrasound.
- Ultrasound is suitable for examining any organ, screening is an examination of the fetus.
- Ultrasound is performed at any time, screening - at certain stages of pregnancy.
