Diagnostic ultrasound imaging has no known risks or long-term side effects. Discomfort to the patient is very rare if the sonogram is accurately performed by using appropriate frequencies and intensity ranges. However, the application of the ALARA principle is always recommended.
There are reports of low birth weight of babies after applying more than the recommended ultrasound examinations during pregnancy. Women who think they might be pregnant should raise this issue with the doctor before undergoing an abdominal ultrasound, to avoid any harm to the fetus in the early stages of development.
Since ultrasound is energy, sensitive tissues like the reproductive organs could possibly sustain damage if vibrated to a high degree by too intense ultrasound waves. In diagnostic ultrasonic procedures, such damage would only result from improper use of the equipment.

Possible ultrasound bioeffects:
The thermal effect is controlled by the displayed thermal index and the mechanical index indicates the risk of cavitation.
An ultrasound gel is applied to obtain better contact between the transducer and the skin. This has the consistency of thick mineral oil and is not associated with skin irritation or allergy.
Specific conditions for which ultrasound may be selected as a treatment may be attached with higher risks.

See also Ultrasound Imaging Procedures, Fetal Ultrasound and Obstetric and Gynecologic Ultrasound.

(TI) The definition of the thermal index is the ratio of the total acoustic power to that required raising a maximum temperature increase of 1 °C under defined assumptions. A thermal index of 1 indicates the acoustic power achieving a temperature increase of 1 °C. A thermal index of 2 has the doubled power but would not necessarily indicate a peak temperature rise of 2 °C. The temperature rise is dependent on tissue type and is particularly dependent on the presence of bone.
Classifications of thermal indices:
For fetal ultrasound, the highest temperature increase would be expected occurring at bone. Therefore, TIB gives the worst-case conditions. If the ultrasound system can exceed an index of 1, the mechanical index and thermal index must be displayed. The displayed indices are based on the manufacturer's data.

See also Cranial Bone Thermal Index, Bone Thermal Index, Soft Tissue Thermal Index.

From GE Healthcare.;
'GE is defining a new age of ultrasound. We call it Volume Ultrasound. GE's Voluson 730 Expert is a powerful system that enables real-time techniques for acquiring, navigating and analyzing volumetric images so that you can make clinical decisions with unprecedented confidence.'

From SIUI Inc.;
'A breakthrough in traditional designation
The latest technologies and processes
Closely combined with up-to-date IT technology
A variety of advanced ultrasound imaging technologies
The best solution provided for users'

'CTS-5000 can match a variety of super high density, super broadband, multi-frequency probes, including convex, micro-convex, linear, vaginal, rectal probes etc., which are widely used to different clinical diagnosis such as abdominal (liver, kidney, gall-bladder, pancreas), gynecology (uterus, ovary), obstetrics (early pregnancy, basic obstetrics, multi gestation, fetal echo), cardiology (adult and pediatric cardiology), small parts (thyroid, galactophore, testicles), peripheral vascular, prostate.'

From SIUI Inc.;
'Dedicated to ultrasound industry, Shantou Institute of Ultrasonic Instruments, Inc. (SIUI) has launched Apogee 3500, the Digital Color Doppler Ultrasound Imaging System.
With latest imaging technologies, high-definition image quality and excellent practical functions, the Apogee 3500 offers optimal solutions for clinical ultrasonic examination.'

'The Apogee 3500 is available with many high-density, super broadband and multi-frequency probes, such as convex, micro-convex, linear, vaginal, rectal and phased array probes, which are widely applied for different clinical diagnoses, including abdomen (liver, kidney, gall-bladder, pancreas), gynecology (uterus, ovary), obstetrics (early pregnancy, basic OB, complete OB, multi gestation, fetal echo), cardiology (adult and pediatric cardiology), small parts (thyroid, galactophore, testicles, neonate), peripheral vascular and prostate.'