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Prostate & Urinary Tract Ultrasound for Men
A single 30-minute scan of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and prostate — the standard first-line imaging for urinary symptoms in men. It measures prostate size, checks how completely the bladder empties, and looks for stones, obstruction and structural causes of poor flow. £235, no GP referral needed.
When urinary symptoms need urgent care, not a booked scan
- You cannot pass urine at all, with a painful, distended lower abdomen — go to A&E. Acute urinary retention needs immediate drainage.
- Visible blood in your urine — see your GP promptly. Visible haematuria requires a defined diagnostic pathway including cystoscopy, which imaging alone does not replace.
- Fever with loin or back pain and urinary symptoms — seek same-day medical review; this may be a kidney infection.
- Severe one-sided loin pain coming in waves, with nausea — seek urgent assessment for a possible obstructing stone.
A private scan is for clarity and next-step guidance when you are stable. It should not delay urgent assessment.
On this page
What the scan covers
This is a complete assessment of the urinary tract from the kidneys down, performed in one appointment:
- Both kidneys. Size, cortical thickness, and any stones, cysts, masses or hydronephrosis — the swelling that occurs when urine cannot drain freely.
- The ureters. Assessed where visible, particularly at the points where obstruction most often occurs.
- The bladder. Wall thickness, stones, and any structural abnormality. Bladder wall thickening is a recognised consequence of long-standing outflow obstruction.
- The prostate. Measured transabdominally through the filled bladder, giving prostate volume and an assessment of whether it is enlarging into the bladder outlet.
- Post-void residual. You empty your bladder and are rescanned, measuring how much urine remains. This is often the single most useful number in the examination.
Who it is for
Men are typically referred, or self-refer, with lower urinary tract symptoms: a weak or hesitant stream, having to strain, going frequently, getting up at night, urgency, or the sense that the bladder has not fully emptied. It is also used to investigate recurrent urinary infections, known or suspected stones, a raised creatinine where obstruction needs excluding, and follow-up of a prostate already known to be enlarged.
It is equally reasonable as a baseline if you are simply not sure whether what you are experiencing is normal for your age and want an objective measurement rather than a guess.
What it can and cannot tell you
Being clear about this matters more on this scan than on most, because prostate imaging is widely misunderstood.
This scan does not exclude prostate cancer. Transabdominal ultrasound measures the size and shape of the prostate and how it affects bladder emptying. It is not a cancer-detection test. Assessing cancer risk requires a PSA blood test and, where indicated, multiparametric MRI and biopsy — a pathway arranged through your GP or a urologist. If cancer is your concern, start there, not here.
What the scan does well is answer the mechanical questions: how large is the prostate, is it obstructing, is the bladder emptying, are the kidneys suffering as a result, and are there stones. Those answers usually determine what happens next — whether that is reassurance, medication, or referral for specialist assessment.
Preparation
Drink around one litre of water an hour before your appointment and do not empty your bladder before you arrive. A comfortably full bladder is essential: it provides the acoustic window through which the prostate is seen, and it allows the post-void residual measurement.
No fasting is required, and you should take your usual medication as normal. There is no GP referral needed.
What happens on the day
You lie on the couch and warmed gel is applied to the abdomen. A curvilinear probe is used to examine the kidneys from the front and flanks, then the bladder and prostate from just above the pubic bone. You will be asked to go to the toilet, and then rescanned briefly to measure what remains.
The examination takes around 30 minutes in total including the post-void measurement. It is painless, though a full bladder is uncomfortable by design. A chaperone is available on request.
You receive instant verbal results at the appointment, and your written report follows within 24 hours.
Price and what is included
| Scan | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kidneys, bladder & prostate, with post-void residual | ~30 minutes | £235 |
The price is all-inclusive: the scan, instant verbal results, and the written report within 24 hours. There is no separate consultation or reporting fee, and no GP referral is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this scan tell me if I have prostate cancer?
No. Transabdominal ultrasound assesses prostate size and its effect on bladder emptying; it is not a cancer-detection test. Prostate cancer assessment uses a PSA blood test and, where indicated, multiparametric MRI and biopsy, arranged through your GP or a urologist. If your primary concern is cancer, that is the pathway to follow.
Is this the same as a transrectal ultrasound?
No. This examination is performed through the abdominal wall with a full bladder. Transrectal ultrasound is a different procedure, generally performed in a urology setting and usually in the context of biopsy. Sonoworld performs the transabdominal examination.
Why do I need a full bladder?
A filled bladder provides the acoustic window through which the prostate is visualised, and it allows the bladder wall to be assessed properly. It also makes the post-void residual measurement meaningful, since that compares the volume before and after emptying.
What is a post-void residual and why does it matter?
It is the volume of urine left in the bladder immediately after you have emptied it. A persistently raised residual suggests the bladder is not emptying effectively, which can result from outflow obstruction or reduced bladder muscle function, and it often influences whether treatment or specialist referral is advised.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. Sonoworld accepts self-referrals and no GP letter is required. Your written report is yours to share with your GP or a specialist.
I have blood in my urine. Is this the right scan?
Visible blood in the urine needs a formal diagnostic pathway through your GP, which typically includes cystoscopy alongside imaging. Ultrasound forms part of that assessment but does not replace it, so please see your GP promptly rather than relying on a private scan alone.
Book a kidney, bladder & prostate ultrasound
£235, around 30 minutes, no GP referral needed. Instant verbal results, with your written report within 24 hours.
29 Weymouth Street, London W1G 7DB · 020 3633 4902
Sources
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Lower urinary tract symptoms in men: management (CG97).
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Suspected cancer: recognition and referral (NG12).
- Royal College of Radiologists. iRefer: Making the best use of clinical radiology.
- British Association of Urological Surgeons. Patient information: lower urinary tract symptoms.
This page is for general information and does not replace individual medical advice. Diagnostic ultrasound at Sonoworld is performed by HCPC-registered practitioners and reported in line with professional standards. Sonoworld is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission. Health claims on this page are intended to comply with the CAP Code.
