Compare before you book
Which women's health scan do you need?
Seven examinations cover women's health at Sonoworld, and several of them overlap. This comparison sets them side by side so you can see what each one looks at, what it costs, how long it takes and how to prepare, before you book.
| Scan | Price | Time | Best for | Preparation |
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| Pelvic ultrasound | £235 | 20 to 30 min | Pelvic pain, heavy or irregular bleeding, suspected cysts, fibroids or endometriosis | Full bladder: about a litre of water an hour before |
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| Abdomen and pelvis | £350 | 45 min | Pain or bloating that could come from the upper abdomen or the pelvis | Fasting for the upper abdomen plus a full bladder |
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| Breast ultrasound | £235 one side, £350 both | 20 to 30 min | A lump, focal pain, nipple discharge or dense breasts; BI-RADS report | None |
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| Follicular tracking | £235 per scan, £588 for three | 20 min | Timing ovulation, monitoring an IVF or natural cycle | None; first scan around day 7 to 9 |
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| Antral follicle count | £235 | 20 min | Ovarian reserve before egg freezing, IVF or family planning | None; ideally day 2 to 5 of the cycle |
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| Well woman scan | £500 | 45 min | A periodic check of pelvis, upper abdomen, urinary tract and aorta | Four-hour fast and a full bladder |
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| Women's full body scan | £785 | 60 to 90 min | The widest single-visit check, seven examinations | Fasting and a full bladder |
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Pelvic scan or abdomen and pelvis?
Choose the pelvic scan when the symptom sits below the navel: period pain that has changed, bleeding between periods or after the menopause, a feeling of pressure, or a suspected cyst or fibroid. It examines the uterus, endometrium and ovaries, usually through the abdomen with a full bladder and, where it adds clarity and you consent, with a transvaginal probe as well. Choose the abdomen and pelvis scan when pain or bloating could equally come from the liver, gallbladder, kidneys or bowel region as from the pelvis. It covers both areas in one 45-minute visit for £350, which is less than booking the two scans separately, and it means one preparation and one report rather than two appointments.
Breast ultrasound: when it is the right first test
A breast ultrasound is the first-line test for a new lump, pain in one area, nipple discharge or a change you have noticed, and it is the preferred imaging under 40, in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, because dense breast tissue limits what a mammogram can show at that age. Over 40, ultrasound is used alongside mammography rather than instead of it, and your report will say plainly if a mammogram or a specialist referral is also advised. One side is £235; both sides are £350. Every report uses the BI-RADS scale so that a GP or breast clinic can act on it immediately.
Fertility scans: tracking, follicle count or a blood test
The fertility scans answer different questions. Follicular tracking is a series of transvaginal scans across one cycle, starting around day 7 to 9, that shows whether and when you ovulate and measures the lining of the womb; it is the scan to book if you are trying to conceive, have irregular cycles or are being monitored through an IVF cycle. The antral follicle count is a single scan, ideally on day 2 to 5, that counts the resting follicles as a measure of ovarian reserve, which is what egg-freezing and IVF clinics ask for. The AMH blood test (£97) measures reserve from a blood sample on any day of the cycle and can be added to an AFC visit, so the two are often done together.
Well woman or full body?
The well woman scan looks at four areas in about 45 minutes: pelvic organs, upper abdomen, urinary tract and the abdominal aorta. It suits a periodic check when you have no specific symptom. The women's full body scan extends that to seven examinations, adding the breasts and the thyroid and neck among others, in a 60 to 90 minute appointment. If you have one clear symptom, book the single scan for that area instead: it is quicker, cheaper and gives the sonographer more time on the question that matters.
Preparation and timing
Pelvic, well woman and full body scans need a full bladder, so drink about a litre of water in the hour before and do not empty your bladder on arrival. Any scan that includes the upper abdomen also needs a four-hour fast, water only, so the gallbladder and pancreas can be seen clearly. Breast and fertility scans need no preparation at all. Most appointments are available the same day or next day, and every scan comes with verbal results in the room and a written report with images within 24 hours.
Still not sure?Heavy bleeding with dizziness, sudden severe pelvic pain or a fever alongside pelvic pain need urgent care rather than a booked scan. Use the Scan Advisor, call 020 3633 4902, or book the scan that matches your main symptom: the clinician will tell you on the day if a different examination would answer your question better.
