How much does an ultrasound cost? (update on side talk #16) UPDATE #19

[StephandOwen]

I know it'll vary depending on where you are and what you're having done, I'm just looking for some numbers to get me in a price range (are we talking a couple hundred? A couple thousand?).

It would be for a non-pregnant woman to check for an abnormality in the uterus.

No insurance to help with the cost.

[othersomethings]

Couple hundred.

[finnegansmom]

It depends on what they are looking for, if it's a level I or level II, and then you have to pay someone to read the results for you.
What kind of abnormality? Sounds like you would need a specialist (a gynocologist over a PCP or midwife).

[Evergreen]

I can really only answer for OB u/s because I have the fee breakdown from my OB on my desk right now.

Most others- $180
early dating us=$275
20 week diagnostic=$290

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by finnegansmom

What kind of abnormality? Sounds like you would need a specialist (a gynocologist over a PCP or midwife).

It will be with an OBGYN.

Short story- they will be looking for a double uterus.

Long story- 3 years ago I had a Mirena inserted. It didn't go well so shortly after I went back to have it removed. They couldn't find it. Sent me to have an ultrasound done to figure out where the heck it was. During the ultrasound the tech made an off-hand comment about "there's the problem- you have a double uterus and they were looking over here but the Mirena is way over there". At the time I was just thrilled they found the Mirena and didn't ask anything about the uterus. I went back to the dr to finally have it removed (which was absolutely horrible and so freaking painful). While there the focus was on getting the thing removed (took a few different doctors to finally get it out) so I didn't even think to ask about the uterus stuff. I wasn't planning on TTC anytime soon so I didn't really care, to be honest.

I had 3 ultrasounds with my son. The midwife I used and the OB didn't see (or at least they didn't mention to me!) anything about an abnormal uterus. I carried my son to 39 weeks and he weighed 8lb 14oz so I know I CAN carry a baby to term.

But the more I read about "double uterus" it looks like women who have a double uterus have a higher risk of miscarriage, a higher risk of premature birth, etc. If the risks are too high then dp won't be on board with TTC, and I understand his reasoning.

HOWEVER, since nobody other than the ultrasound tech has ever mentioned anything to me about the double uterus I have no idea what to think. Was he seeing things correctly? Do I really have one?

So the big questions are "do I have a double uterus?" and "what are the risks if I were to get pregnant?".

[finnegansmom]

I would request your old records from your Mirena doc. If you have been diagnosed with a double uterus, it should be on there. Could she have meant bicornate uterus? I would imagine having 2 uteri (?) is really rare.

If you're having issues TCC, and I'm so sorry if you are, then maybe a fertility blood panel might be a good starting point? It's cheaper and might rule out some more common things? Like progesterone issues?

And a few years ago, I have a quick "viability" US at 7 weeks when I was having severe cramping and it cost $370. That did not include the Dr's review or anything, it wasn't at the ER or anything and was literally 5 minutes if that. I think it will all depend on where you go and where you live. Also, if you are a self payor, you are going to get charged the "retail rate", not the contracted rate. I had to pay out of pocket because I had a stupidly high deductible but I was charged the normal contracted rate (which is cheaper).

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by finnegansmom

I would request your old records from your Mirena doc. If you have been diagnosed with a double uterus, it should be on there. Could she have meant bicornate uterus? I would imagine having 2 uteri (?) is really rare.

I have requested those records, but I was told it will take until probably the middle of November to get them. I have an appointment with my new dr on Thursday. I'm going to see if I can just go in and look at the old records and write down anything that the dr would need to know and hope that's enough.

If you're having issues TCC, and I'm so sorry if you are, then maybe a fertility blood panel might be a good starting point? It's cheaper and might rule out some more common things? Like progesterone issues?

Nope, not yet DP and I are going to start TTC at the end of December, as long as the dr says the risks are fairly low and dp and I feel comfortable with those risks. DP and I are getting married on January 1st so I'll have insurance after that

Also, if you are a self payor, you are going to get charged the "retail rate", not the contracted rate. I had to pay out of pocket because I had a stupidly high deductible but I was charged the normal contracted rate (which is cheaper).

I will be paying out of pocket for the appointment, which is why I'm hoping to keep the costs down! They did say that if I pay it all at the time of the appointment then there's a discount. If I can't pay it all at the time of the appointment then they'll work with me on a payment plan.

ETA- I will also probably ask the dr to just wait a couple weeks and when I get the records I'll get those to him and he can look at them. If he still wants to do an ultrasound then at least I'll have a few more weeks to save up to pay for it, though I would rather he find all the info he needs from my records!

[StephandOwen]

Woo! Okay, problem may be solved I finally got ahold of the medical records department (crappy thing about going to a large medical facility is they never answer their phone and they are always too busy to help you). I listened to the stupid phone music for half the morning. LOL! But a very nice man answered and told me that if I come in Wednesday morning he will get all of my records copied by then and I can pick them up! Yippee for nice people!

That *should* have the info the new dr needs in it, so hopefully I can avoid an ultrasound altogether!

And I'm really curious to read the records myself and see what they say

I am also waiting for the hospital where I delivered ds (and had ultrasounds done for him) and the OB/midwife office I used for ds to fax me their records. Unfortunately they are 2 states away so I can't just pick up those records (though I will be in that state Friday, it will be too late then!). But the one with the mirena (the one I will pick up Wednesday) is the one I really wanted.

[hollytheteacher]

Just got the bill for mine today and it was 303.00. I think the price varies on how long they did the u/s for...like a minute rate or something.

[camprunner]

When I had one 9 years ago for something similar it was $300 (had insurance but hadn't met deductible). When I asked about my 20 week scan this time it was only going to be $140.

[trekkingirl]

I don't think a double uterus is that rare. My SIL has two utureses and she did end up having a preemie.

[macandcheese]

My insurance co. was billed about $400 for my 20 week US. Not sure how that varies for a non-pregnancy US. What about Planned Parenthood or someplace like that? I used to get yearly gyn exams there for next to nothing when I was in college and graduate school.

[texmati]

ours was 170. level 1 with a tech.

[purplepaperclip]

In my experience, insurance billed amounts and cash paying patient amounts don't usually match up.
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[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by macandcheese

What about Planned Parenthood or someplace like that?

Good question. I've not looked into Planned Parenthood around here. I have been going to the local health department and they've waived all my fees for the past 2 years (they consider me a single mom since dp and I aren't married and he isn't ds's bio-dad and I made/make very little). I've gotten my yearly exams and birth control free for the past couple years, but I never thought to ask about an ultrasound. I don't think they have one in the office so I don't know what they would do (if they would even do one). Hmmm.... something to think about!

[StephandOwen]

I got my medical records from the ultrasound and it says I do, indeed, have a bicornuate uterus. Further, it also says they could not find my left ovary. It is inconclusive about whether I have a left ovary or whether it was just hiding really well.

After doing a little more research on this I'm a little shocked and sad. According to this site, only 0.1-0.5% of women are known to have a bicornuate uterus (though the actual number is likely higher because it's not something you would know unless it was causing trouble so women who have never had a baby likely wouldn't have any idea they have this). It says there is an estimated 55-63% fetal survival rate associated with this. It also says there is a 15-25% rate of preterm delivery. It says fetal growth retardation is also associated, but more likely the baby wouldn't survive that long or would be delivered preterm. It also mentions that often babies, especially if they aren't preterm, can't get into a proper birthing position because there's not enough room (so they won't go head down).



However, it really makes me see how much of a miracle my ds is. He was born full term (we evicted him at 39 weeks ), vaginally, AND he was big (8lb 14oz). So I know it is possible to have a healthy, full term baby. But if we try again are we playing with fire? What are the odds of having 2 healthy, full term babies?

Throw in the possibility of not having 1 of my ovaries and.... huh. Makes me really appreciate the miracle of my ds being here (ds was an "oops" the first time I ever had sex without protection).

[kissum]

I know the research doesn't sound great, but the fact that your son was born ft is a really good sign. I'd talk to an ob before making any big decisions- I bet the fact that you've carried to term previously really decreases your odds of complications. :

And then you just have to decide what you can live with as far as TTC- are you okay with a c-section if needed? What resources do you have to deal with a preemie? GL!

[finnegansmom]

Hi, I have a friend IRL who has a bicornate uterus. It was not diganosed until after she had 2 MCs in a row, (She had a 12 week loss, a healthy baby born at term, and then 2 early losses). She went on to have surgery to correct it, and got pregnant quickly and had a little girl at term who just turned 2.

I wouldn't say it's playing with the fire.
The odds of 55-63% surivival rate - is that from conception?
If you take it into context, that the average fetal survival might be 70% (assuming 30% spontaneous miscarriage on average) it's not that much less...

[StephandOwen]

UPDATE- I saw the OBGYN today and I am very happy with him! He was a very positive, straight-forward guy. He said that if I get pregnant and have a miscarriage then he'll probably want to do an x-ray to check and see if there is a wall (if there is it can be surgically removed- the problem with the wall is that if a fetus implants on the wall it will be miscarried every time. But there's no proof that I have a wall). But he basically doesn't want to do anything unless it proves to be problematic. He said the fact I have my ds is proof enough that it *does* work and I *can* have a healthy, full term baby. He also said often times he sees women who come in and say they were told they have a bicornuate uterus.... but they aren't told how severe it is (like I have no clue how severe mine is). He said if it's just a small dip at the top, it's generally not a problem at all. If it's deeper and has a wall then it might be more problematic. But, again, the fact I carried my son as long as I did makes him think I probably have more of a small dip and not a deep one.

His advice was "go for it, have fun and don't stress yourselves". LOL!

And to sweeten the deal even more..... he didn't even charge me He knew I was paying out of pocket, I had to wait for a little while for my appointment (he had a c-section he had to do so was late getting back to the office) and he said he didn't even really do anything (just talked to me), so he wasn't going to charge anything. He said that since I'll have insurance in January then it was fine to wait and do a PAP until then

[texmati]

Originally Posted by StephandOwen

UPDATE- I saw the OBGYN today and I am very happy with him! He was a very positive, straight-forward guy. He said that if I get pregnant and have a miscarriage then he'll probably want to do an x-ray to check and see if there is a wall (if there is it can be surgically removed- the problem with the wall is that if a fetus implants on the wall it will be miscarried every time. But there's no proof that I have a wall). But he basically doesn't want to do anything unless it proves to be problematic. He said the fact I have my ds is proof enough that it *does* work and I *can* have a healthy, full term baby. He also said often times he sees women who come in and say they were told they have a bicornuate uterus.... but they aren't told how severe it is (like I have no clue how severe mine is). He said if it's just a small dip at the top, it's generally not a problem at all. If it's deeper and has a wall then it might be more problematic. But, again, the fact I carried my son as long as I did makes him think I probably have more of a small dip and not a deep one.

His advice was "go for it, have fun and don't stress yourselves". LOL!

And to sweeten the deal even more..... he didn't even charge me He knew I was paying out of pocket, I had to wait for a little while for my appointment (he had a c-section he had to do so was late getting back to the office) and he said he didn't even really do anything (just talked to me), so he wasn't going to charge anything. He said that since I'll have insurance in January then it was fine to wait and do a PAP until then

great update! So it sound like it may not be as bad as you thought!