Compare private clinics that offer MRI of the pelvis and send an enquiry to the clinic you choose. This page explains what a pelvic MRI looks at, when other steps come first, and how referral works.
Search MRI providers near youA pelvic MRI takes detailed pictures of the lower part of the abdomen and the bones and joints of the pelvis. Depending on the question being asked, that can include the womb, ovaries, bladder and bowel, the hip joints, and the sacroiliac joints where the base of the spine meets the pelvis.
Prostate MRI is a separate, specialised scan with its own page: see prostate MRI scan. For a scan focused on one hip, see hip MRI scan. FindScan is a directory and enquiry service. We do not scan anyone, give medical advice or take bookings. You can compare clinics, see each clinic's own listed price as the clinic sets it, and send an enquiry. We pass your details to the clinic you chose, and the clinic takes it from there.
MRI does not use ionising radiation. The NHS says MRI scans are used to help diagnose conditions, plan treatment and check how well treatment is working. A pelvic MRI is usually set up to answer one question, so the clinic will ask what the scan is for. It may plan the scan differently for a gynaecological question than for a question about the hips or sacroiliac joints, and it may decide whether contrast is needed.
These are conditions a GP or gynaecologist assesses. A scan is one part of that assessment, and NHS pages describe ultrasound as the usual first scan for some of them:
If a specialist has suggested MRI, a private pelvic MRI may be something to discuss with them. If you have not yet seen anyone about your symptoms, a GP is the right first step. See also pelvic ultrasound explained and private ultrasound scans.
A pelvic MRI can include the hip joints and the sacroiliac joints. On the NHS page about diagnosing ankylosing spondylitis, it says that if an X-ray cannot confirm the condition you will usually be offered an MRI scan, and that if MRI shows inflammation of the sacroiliac joints you will be diagnosed with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. It also notes that sometimes inflammation does not show up on an X-ray or an MRI scan.
For hip pain, NHS advice is to try self-care first, such as keeping moving without overdoing it, ice and painkillers. See a GP if the pain affects your normal activities or sleep, is getting worse or keeps coming back, has not improved after 2 weeks of treating it at home, or your hip is stiff for more than 30 minutes after waking up. A GP may refer you to a specialist, who may do a scan. For lower back pain, see which scan for back pain and sciatica.
Some pelvic and hip symptoms need urgent care rather than a private scan. NHS guidance says:
MRI does not use ionising radiation, so the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R) do not apply to it. Many private clinics accept self-referral for MRI, usually after their own safety screening, but each clinic sets its own policy, so check before you go ahead. For gynaecological questions in particular, a clinic may ask for details from your GP or gynaecologist so that the scan is planned around the right question.
See private MRI without a GP referral for more on how self-referral works.
Preparation depends on the question the scan is answering, so follow the clinic's instructions. Before the scan you will fill in a safety form. The NHS says it asks whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant, are breastfeeding, have had surgery, have kidney problems, have metal parts in your body such as surgical clips, a pacemaker, dental fillings or bridges, or have allergies, including to contrast medium. Read more about MRI safety and metal implants and how to prepare for your scan.
You lie on a bed that moves into the scanner. The NHS says an MRI scan usually takes between 15 minutes and 1 hour, but can take longer, and you need to lie still so the scanner can take clear images. MRI scanners make loud bangs and clicks, so you will be given ear plugs or headphones.
If your scan uses contrast, it is given as an injection. The NHS lists possible side effects as feeling or being sick, a skin rash, a headache, a metallic taste or feeling dizzy. If small spaces worry you, you may be able to have a medicine to help you relax; the NHS says you should not drive for 24 hours afterwards. See MRI options for claustrophobia and open vs closed MRI.
Your images are reported by an appropriately qualified clinician. The clinic will tell you how long its report takes and how you will receive it. It can help to share the report with your GP or specialist, who can explain what it means alongside your symptoms and any other test results. See how long scan results take.
Prices for pelvic MRI vary by clinic, by the area being scanned, whether contrast is used, the type of scanner and the region. FindScan shows each clinic's own listed price, as the clinic sets it, without mark-up. See private MRI scan costs in the UK and whether health insurance covers MRI.
Search for MRI near you, check which clinics list pelvic MRI, and compare their listed prices, scanner types and referral policies. When you have chosen, send an enquiry and say briefly what the scan is for. The clinic contacts you to confirm whether it can help, to carry out its safety screening and to agree the next steps. Compare MRI clinics near you.
No. Prostate MRI is a specialised scan of the prostate and is listed separately on FindScan. See our prostate MRI page and prostate MRI explained.
The NHS lists an MRI scan as one of the tests that may be used for endometriosis, alongside ultrasound and laparoscopy. A gynaecologist decides which tests are right for you.
The NHS says a GP will usually refer you to a specialist for an ultrasound scan to check for fibroids. If a specialist wants MRI as well, they can explain why.
MRI does not use ionising radiation, so many private clinics accept self-referral after their own safety screening. Each clinic sets its own policy, and some may ask for details from your GP or specialist. Check when you send your enquiry.
The NHS says an MRI scan usually takes between 15 minutes and 1 hour, but can take longer. The clinic will tell you how long to allow for your appointment.
Not always. It depends on the question the scan is answering. The clinic will tell you and will ask about kidney problems and allergies first.
No. FindScan is a directory and enquiry service. We help you compare clinics and pass your enquiry to the clinic you choose. The clinic carries out the scan, sets its own price and arranges your appointment with you.
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.