Women's Health Imaging in Ajax: A Guide by Life Stage

Medical imaging tends to show up in a woman’s life in waves. There may be a pelvic ultrasound in your twenties to look into painful periods, a series of pregnancy scans in your thirties, a first mammogram around forty, and a bone density test sometime after menopause. Each one usually arrives on its own, with its own requisition and its own instructions, and it is rarely explained how they fit together.

This guide steps back and looks at the bigger picture. It outlines the imaging examinations women commonly encounter at different stages of life, what each one is generally used for, and how to prepare. It is not a schedule to follow; the tests you need depend on your health, your history and your health-care provider’s judgement. Think of it instead as a map, so that when a test is suggested, you have a sense of where it fits.

At Rossland Diagnostic Clinic in Ajax, we offer ultrasound, mammography, bone mineral density testing and X-ray under one roof, and we see women from across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and the rest of Durham Region at every one of these stages.

Teens and twenties: answering specific questions

In younger women, imaging is usually ordered to investigate a specific concern rather than for routine screening. Some of the reasons a doctor might suggest a scan include:

• Painful, heavy or irregular periods.
• Pelvic pain that comes and goes or does not settle.
• A lump or area of concern in the breast.
• Abdominal pain, where the gallbladder, kidneys or other organs need a look.
• Sports injuries involving joints, tendons or bones.

Pelvic ultrasound

A pelvic ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, to create images of the uterus and ovaries. It is one of the most common imaging tests for women in this age group. Depending on what your provider has requested, you may be asked to arrive with a full bladder, because a full bladder helps lift the bowel out of the way and gives a clearer view of the pelvic organs. Your preparation instructions are confirmed when you book.

Breast ultrasound in younger women

If a younger woman notices a breast lump, her health-care provider will often request an ultrasound first. Breast tissue in younger women tends to be denser, and ultrasound can be a good way to look at a specific area. Mammography may also be used, depending on the situation and the provider’s advice.

Musculoskeletal imaging

Active lifestyles bring their own imaging needs. A walk-in X-ray can look at bones after a fall or injury, while a musculoskeletal ultrasound can help assess tendons and soft tissues around joints such as the shoulder or ankle. Both are ordered by a health-care provider.

Pregnancy: a series of scans

For many women, pregnancy is when ultrasound becomes most familiar. Obstetrical ultrasound is used to follow a baby’s growth and development, and your prenatal care provider will decide which scans you need and when.

What obstetrical ultrasound is for

Obstetrical scans are medical examinations. Depending on the stage of pregnancy, they may be used to confirm dates, check the baby’s growth, look at the position of the placenta, or assess anatomy. The timing and number of scans vary, so follow your provider’s plan.

Keepsake 3D/4D ultrasound

Separately from medical scans, some families choose an elective 3D/4D ultrasound to see their baby’s features. At our clinic, family and friends are welcome to come along. The baby’s sex can often be seen from around 23 weeks, and the best facial views are often between about 23 and 28 weeks. A keepsake scan is a special experience but does not replace the medical ultrasounds your provider orders.

A note on X-ray during pregnancy

If you are pregnant or think you might be, always tell the staff before any X-ray-based examination, including a mammogram, standard X-ray or bone density test. In many cases the examination can be postponed or another approach chosen. Your provider will help decide what is appropriate.

The forties: screening begins

The forties are when screening, rather than investigation, starts to play a bigger role.

Screening mammography

Rossland Diagnostic Clinic is registered with the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). Women aged 40 to 74 can book a routine screening mammogram with us directly, without a doctor’s referral. Routine screening is for women without breast symptoms; if you have noticed a lump, nipple change, skin change or new pain, see your health-care provider first.

On the day of your mammogram:

• Do not use deodorant, antiperspirant or talcum powder on your chest or underarms.
• Wear a two-piece outfit so you only need to undress from the waist up.
• Bring your health card and details of any previous mammograms.

How often to continue screening is a conversation to have with your provider, who can take into account your family history and other factors such as breast density.

Investigating new symptoms

Many women in their forties also start to notice changes associated with perimenopause, such as shifts in their cycle. If your provider wants to look more closely at the uterus or ovaries, a pelvic ultrasound is often the first step.

Fifties and menopause: bones and blood vessels join the picture

Around menopause, hormonal changes affect more than the menstrual cycle. Two areas often come into focus: bone health and, for some women, the circulatory system.

Bone mineral density testing

After menopause, bone density can decrease, which raises the risk of fractures for some women. A bone mineral density (BMD) test uses a low-energy X-ray to measure the density of bone, usually in the hip and lower spine. It is quick and painless, and you lie on a padded table while the scanner passes over you.

At our clinic, a bone mineral density test requires a referral. To prepare:

• Do not take calcium or iron supplements on the day of the scan until after the examination.
• Wear clothing without metal fasteners, such as zips, buttons or underwire, around the hips and waist.
• Bring your health card and your requisition.

Your health-care provider will decide whether and when a bone density test makes sense for you, based on your age, history and risk factors.

Continuing screening mammograms

Routine OBSP screening continues through your fifties and sixties. Keeping a record of where and when each mammogram was done makes it easier for radiologists to compare images over time.

Vascular ultrasound

For some women, especially those with risk factors such as high blood pressure or a history of clots, a provider may request a vascular ultrasound. This test looks at blood flow in arteries and veins and can help identify clots or narrowing. A carotid ultrasound, which looks at the arteries in the neck, can help assess stroke risk. Preparation is confirmed when you book.

Sixty-five and beyond: keeping an eye on the whole picture

Later in life, imaging often becomes about monitoring and managing ongoing conditions as well as screening.

• Bone density follow-up tests may be suggested to track changes over time.
• Screening mammograms remain available to self-book up to age 74 through the OBSP. After that, decisions about continued screening are best made with your provider.
• X-ray is commonly used after falls, for joint pain, or to look at the chest.
• General ultrasound of the abdomen, thyroid or other areas may be requested to investigate symptoms.

Practical considerations matter more at this stage too. Our clinic has ground-floor access and free parking, and family members are welcome to accompany you. If you need extra time or assistance, mention it when you book.

Keeping your imaging organized across the years

One of the most useful things you can do for your future self is to keep a simple personal imaging record. It does not need to be elaborate. A note on your phone or a page in a folder can include:

1. The type of examination, such as screening mammogram or pelvic ultrasound.
2. The date.
3. The clinic or hospital where it was done.
4. The referring provider, if there was one.
5. Any follow-up that was recommended.

When you see a new provider or visit a new clinic, this record makes it much easier to retrieve earlier images for comparison, which is often valuable to the radiologist reading your new study.

Questions worth asking your provider

• Which screening tests are recommended for me at my age and with my history?
• Is there anything in my family history that changes when or how I should be screened?
• When should I have my next mammogram or bone density test?
• If I have a new symptom, which test is likely to be the first step?

One clinic, many stages

Women often appreciate having one familiar place for several kinds of imaging. When your mammograms, ultrasounds and bone density tests are done in the same setting, your history is easier to keep track of, and you already know the routine: where to park, how check-in works, and what the rooms look like. For many women in Ajax, that familiarity takes some of the edge off appointments that might otherwise feel stressful.

Rossland Diagnostic Clinic is at Unit 102, 300 Rossland Road East in Ajax, open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday from 8:00am to 3:30pm.

To book a screening mammogram, or to schedule an examination your provider has requested, call 905-426-3111 or request an appointment. We will confirm any preparation you need when you book.