A pelvic ultrasound uses sound waves to look at the organs in the lower part of your tummy, such as the womb, ovaries and bladder. It does not use radiation. Compare private clinics and send an enquiry to the one you choose.
Search ultrasound providers near youA pelvic ultrasound looks at the organs in your pelvis. A probe gives off sound waves, which bounce off the organs and are picked up again to build images on a screen. The NHS notes that ultrasound scans do not use any radiation, unlike X-rays or CT scans. The scan can be done from outside, over your lower tummy, or from inside, with a probe placed in the vagina. The internal version is often called a transvaginal ultrasound.
FindScan is a directory, not a clinic. We list private imaging providers across the UK, show each clinic's own listed price as the clinic sets it, and pass your enquiry to the clinic you pick. This page covers why a pelvic ultrasound is requested, the two ways it is done, how to prepare and how to compare clinics. Our guide to vascular and pelvic ultrasound has more background.
There are two approaches, and a clinic may use one or both depending on the question being asked:
The NHS says an external probe does not usually cause any pain, while internal probes can be uncomfortable when they are put in or moved during the test. Tell the clinic if you have a latex allergy, and ask before the appointment which approach it plans to use and why.
Cancer Research UK lists the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, womb, fallopian tubes and the lining of the tummy (peritoneum), among the areas an ultrasound can look at, along with the urinary system, including the bladder.
Pelvic ultrasound is not only for women. The NHS enlarged prostate page lists an ultrasound scan of your bladder among the tests a GP may refer you to hospital for. If you are a man looking for a bladder scan, check with the clinic that it offers the scan you need. For prostate imaging specifically, see our prostate MRI page.
NHS condition pages describe ultrasound in several gynaecological situations:
The NHS also notes that fibroids are sometimes found during other scans, such as a pregnancy scan. A scan looks at structures. It does not on its own explain every symptom, and a normal result does not mean nothing needs looking into.
A private scan does not replace a GP assessment. NHS guidance says:
Our guide on seeing a GP before a scan explains how a GP assessment and a private scan can fit together.
Ultrasound does not use ionising radiation, so the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations, which require a referral for X-ray and CT, do not apply. Many private clinics accept self-referral for a pelvic ultrasound, usually after their own screening questions about your symptoms and history. Each clinic sets its own policy, and some may ask for a GP letter or a clinical reason for the scan, so check when you enquire.
For an external pelvic scan you will usually be asked to arrive with a full bladder. The NHS says you may be asked to drink a few glasses of water without going to the toilet beforehand, and Cancer Research UK describes the aim as a comfortably full bladder. For an internal scan, the clinic will tell you whether your bladder should be full or empty.
The NHS adds that you may need to remove jewellery or piercings from the area being scanned. If you are due to have your period on the day, ask the clinic whether it is better to change the date. Our guide on how to prepare for your scan has a general checklist.
A sonographer or a radiologist usually does the scan. For an external scan you lie down, the lights may be dimmed, gel is put on your lower tummy and the probe is moved across your skin. If an internal scan follows, the clinic will explain what to expect and give you privacy to get ready. The NHS says an ultrasound appointment usually takes around 10 to 45 minutes, although it might take longer.
Your scan is reported by an appropriately qualified clinician. The clinic will tell you how long its report takes, who receives it and who will talk you through it. A report may recommend more tests, a repeat scan or a referral to a specialist. Our guide to scan results explains what to ask.
This page is about pelvic ultrasound outside pregnancy. The NHS lists checking a baby's development during pregnancy as one use of ultrasound, but pregnancy scans have their own timing, preparation and purpose. If you are pregnant, speak to your midwife or GP about your pregnancy scans, and tell any clinic you contact if you are or might be pregnant.
Prices vary by clinic. The main factors are whether the scan is external, internal or both, whether it is combined with another area such as the abdomen, the region, and what the price includes, such as the written report. FindScan shows each clinic's own listed price, without mark-up. Read more in private ultrasound scan costs in the UK.
Search for ultrasound clinics near you, compare what each one lists, and send an enquiry to the clinic you choose. FindScan passes your details to that clinic, which then contacts you about suitability, preparation and availability. FindScan does not carry out scans, give medical advice or take bookings or payments.
See ultrasound clinics near you or read more about private ultrasound scans.
Usually, for an external scan. The NHS says you may be asked to drink a few glasses of water without going to the toilet beforehand. For an internal scan, follow the clinic's own instructions.
The NHS says internal ultrasound probes can be uncomfortable when they are put in or moved during the test. Tell the sonographer if you are uncomfortable or want them to stop.
The NHS says that if a GP thinks you might have fibroids, they will usually refer you for an ultrasound scan, which can show whether fibroids are there, how many there are, where they are and how big they are.
Many private clinics accept self-referral for ultrasound because it does not use ionising radiation, so IR(ME)R does not apply. Each clinic sets its own policy and usually asks screening questions first.
Yes, a scan of the bladder is one example. The NHS enlarged prostate page lists an ultrasound scan of the bladder among the tests a GP may refer you for. Check with the clinic that it offers the scan you need.
No. A pregnancy scan is a separate service with its own timing and purpose. If you are pregnant, speak to your midwife or GP about your pregnancy scans.
FindScan is a directory and enquiry service, not a healthcare provider, and nothing here is medical advice. Speak to a GP or another clinician about your symptoms.