An analysis of fetal ultrasound use commissioned by the Wall Street Journal found that an average of more than five fetal ultrasound procedures were performed per delivery in the U.S. in 2014, up 92% from 2004.
The analysis by nonprofit insurance claims aggregator Fair Health of the most common fetal ultrasound studies also found that some women received ultrasound scans at every doctor visit during their pregnancy, according to the July 17 article.
The surge in fetal ultrasound utilization comes in spite of a May 2014 joint statement from several medical societies recommending that only one or two ultrasound exams be performed in low-risk pregnancies, the article notes. The data also do not include keepsake ultrasound studies performed by nonmedical providers.
