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Obstetrics · London

Private early pregnancy scan in London, by a consultant obstetric radiologist.

Reassurance, dating and viability scans from 6 weeks - by a specialist obstetric radiologist, in a calm room, with a proper report you can take to your booking appointment.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private early pregnancy scan costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£150–£300, with findings at the same visit.

Scan type Indicative range
Reassurance scan (6–10 weeks) £150–£300
Dating scan (10–14 weeks) £180–£350
Combined test (NT + bloods, 11–14 weeks) £250–£450
Recurrent miscarriage / bleeding assessment £300–£600
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) £400–£850
Twin / high-risk early scan £300–£550

Prices vary by clinic, gestation, whether trans-vaginal is needed, and whether combined-test bloods or NIPT are added.

The problem

Early pregnancy scans are only as good as the person doing them.

Very early scans are technically the hardest ultrasound imaging done. A consultant obstetric radiologist reads what a less experienced operator can miss - a subtle ectopic, a corpus luteum mimicking a sac, a viable pregnancy just too early to show a heartbeat.

  • Want reassurance quickly?

    Reassurance scans are short, and findings are usually discussed at the same visit.

  • Worried about who is scanning you?

    Look for a consultant obstetric radiologist or fetal-medicine specialist - not just a general sonographer.

What it shows

The questions an early pregnancy scan can answer.

Early ultrasound answers a specific set of questions quickly and safely.

  • Confirming a viable pregnancy

    A visible fetal pole with a heartbeat - the single most reassuring finding in early pregnancy.

  • Accurate dating

    Crown-rump length gives a due date more accurate than the last-period calculation, especially if cycles are irregular.

  • Twin diagnosis

    Confirms twins early, and - crucially - whether they share a placenta or sac.

  • Cause of early pregnancy bleeding

    Distinguishes a viable pregnancy with bleeding from a threatened, missed or complete miscarriage.

  • Suspected ectopic (urgent pathway)

    A pregnancy outside the womb is a medical emergency. Trans-vaginal scan is the key test.

  • Red flag: severe one-sided pain + faintness

    Do not wait for a private scan - this is a same-day A&E problem. Call 999 or go straight in.

  • Nuchal translucency measurement

    Measured between 11 and 14 weeks as part of the combined test for chromosomal conditions.

  • Reassurance after previous miscarriage

    A short, well-timed scan can quietly answer the question you cannot stop asking.

Scan types

Not all early pregnancy scans are the same.

What each option is actually for - and when in the first trimester it belongs.

  • Reassurance scan

    A short scan from around 6–10 weeks to look for a heartbeat and confirm the pregnancy is in the womb.

  • Dating scan

    Between 10 and 14 weeks - establishes an accurate due date from crown-rump length.

  • Combined NT + bloods

    Nuchal translucency measurement plus a blood test, giving a chromosomal risk assessment.

  • Miscarriage / bleeding assessment

    A structured scan when there has been bleeding, pain, or a previous loss.

  • NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing)

    A maternal blood test analysing fetal DNA. High accuracy for common trisomies from 10 weeks.

  • Twin early scan

    A more detailed early scan for known or suspected twins - including chorionicity.

  • Post-IVF viability scan

    Usually around 6–8 weeks after embryo transfer, to confirm number and viability of pregnancies.

  • Follow-up viability scan

    A repeat scan a week or two later when the first was too early to be conclusive.

Safety and what to know

One of the safest tests in medicine - with a few practical points.

Ultrasound is the standard imaging test in pregnancy and involves no radiation. These are the things worth knowing beforehand.

  • Very early scans may be inconclusive

    Before 6 weeks, a heartbeat may not yet be visible even in a normal pregnancy - a repeat in 1–2 weeks is often needed.

  • Trans-vaginal is often used early

    A slim internal probe gives a much clearer view before 8 weeks. It is your choice, and painless when done well.

  • A chaperone is standard

    Offered as standard for every scan, and always available on request.

  • Bring someone if you want

    A partner or friend is welcome in the room. Early pregnancy scans can be emotionally charged and support helps.

  • Bring your antenatal notes

    If you have already started notes with the NHS or a midwife, bring them. It helps the report land in the right place.

  • A positive test is not viability

    A positive urine or blood test tells you that you are pregnant. Only a scan confirms the pregnancy is viable and in the right place.

  • Not a replacement for NHS booking

    A private early scan is additional to - not a substitute for - your NHS booking appointment with a midwife.

  • Suspected ectopic is an emergency

    A pregnancy outside the womb can be life-threatening. This is same-day EPAU or A&E, not a private booking.

  • Heavy bleeding + faintness - 999

    Always call NHS 111, or 999 for heavy bleeding with faintness or severe one-sided pain. Do not wait.

Reading your report

An early pregnancy report can look intimidating. It isn't.

Whichever scan you have, the report keeps to the same four parts.

A consultant obstetric radiologist reviewing early pregnancy ultrasound images on a clinical workstation, London

A quiet reminder

The report is written for your midwife or doctor, not for you - and that is normal.

If anything is unclear, ask the clinician who arranged the test to talk you through it before your booking appointment.

  1. 01 Header

    Your details and LMP

    Your details, last menstrual period, and the reason for the scan.

  2. 02 Technique

    Which route was used

    Trans-abdominal, trans-vaginal, or both - and whether Doppler was used.

  3. 03 Findings

    Sac, yolk sac, fetal pole, heartbeat

    A structured description of the gestation sac, yolk sac, fetal pole, heart activity and crown-rump length for dating.

  4. 04 Impression

    The conclusion: read this first

    Viable, non-viable or ectopic - and the next step. Read this first; your specialist discusses it in context.

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Frequently asked

Common questions about early pregnancy scans.

Quick answers on timing, trans-vaginal scans, cost, bleeding, previous miscarriage, NIPT and when to worry.

  • What does an early pregnancy scan show?

    It confirms the pregnancy is in the womb, gives an accurate due date from crown-rump length, looks for a heartbeat, counts the number of pregnancies, and - later in the first trimester - measures the nuchal translucency for combined screening.

  • How early is it useful?

    The earliest useful scan is usually around 6 to 6.5 weeks from the last period. Before that, even a normal pregnancy may not yet show a heartbeat, and a repeat scan will be needed to be conclusive.

  • Will I need a trans-vaginal scan?

    Before around 8 weeks, a trans-vaginal (internal) scan usually gives a much clearer view than a scan through the abdomen. It is always your choice, a chaperone is standard, and it should be discussed beforehand.

  • How much does a private early pregnancy scan cost in London?

    A reassurance scan is typically £150–£300, a dating scan £180–£350, and the combined test with bloods £250–£450. NIPT is more, and a twin or high-risk scan sits between.

  • Do I still need the NHS pathway?

    Yes. A private early scan is additional to - not a substitute for - your NHS booking appointment with a midwife. The report is written so you can take it straight to that appointment.

  • I have some bleeding - should I have a private scan?

    Light bleeding in early pregnancy is common and often not serious, and a scan can be very reassuring. Heavy bleeding, severe pain or faintness is a same-day EPAU or A&E problem - call NHS 111 or 999.

  • I have had a previous miscarriage - will an early scan help?

    For many people, yes. A short, well-timed scan around 7–8 weeks can settle the question. The timing is chosen carefully so the answer is as clear as possible.

  • What is NIPT and do I need a scan for it?

    NIPT is a maternal blood test analysing fetal DNA. It is highly accurate for common trisomies from 10 weeks. A scan first is sensible to confirm dating and viability before the blood is sent.

  • Are twin scans different?

    Yes - as well as counting the pregnancies, an early scan for twins looks at whether they share a placenta and sac. This changes how the pregnancy is monitored, so it matters early.

  • When should I see a GP or go to A&E urgently?

    Severe one-sided pain, heavy bleeding, faintness or shoulder-tip pain in early pregnancy is an emergency - call 999 or go straight to A&E. For less severe but worrying symptoms, call NHS 111 or your GP the same day.

Related tests

Looking for a different test?

In practice, in London

Booking early pregnancy scan privately in London - what actually happens

With early pregnancy scan, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. On the NHS, early pregnancy scan typically sits behind a triage step and a wait that can stretch from a few weeks into months. In London’s private sector, the same appointment often lands within days. That speed matters when symptoms are disrupting work, sleep, or a plan you’d already committed to - and it’s a common reason people look at private options.

A private early pregnancy scan pathway in London usually looks like this: an initial consultation, any diagnostics booked at a nearby facility (most within Zone 1 or 2), and a written report sent to you and your GP within a few days. For early pregnancy scan specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.