A gender scan is a private obstetric ultrasound, bookable from 12 weeks of pregnancy, that reveals your baby’s sex — with accuracy climbing above 99% once you reach around 15-16 weeks — alongside a basic wellbeing check.
Listen to a Brief Summary ⭐
| Your question | Quick answer | More detail |
|---|---|---|
| When can I have it? | From 12 weeks; most reliable from 15-16 weeks | When and Why We Use Gender Scan |
| How accurate is it? | Roughly 70-90% at 12-13 weeks, 99%+ from 15-16 weeks | Conditions Detected / Diagnostic Value |
| How long does it take? | 5-15 minutes of scanning within a 20-30 minute appointment | What the Scan Includes |
| What does it cost? | From around £60, rising to £100-£150+ for 3D/4D packages | Pricing & Booking |
| Who performs it? | HCPC-registered sonographers or GMC-registered consultant obstetricians | Who Performs the Scan & Equipment Used |
| Is it safe? | Yes — sound waves, not radiation, under the ALARA principle | Safety and Limitations |
Definition
A gender scan is a private ultrasound appointment designed to determine your baby’s sex and provide a basic check of foetal wellbeing. It uses high-frequency sound waves, delivered through a trans-abdominal probe, to build a live image of the foetus — there is no radiation involved and no needles. A gender scan is non-invasive and is designed to complement your routine NHS antenatal care, not replace it. Think of it as an early, reassuring look at your baby, with the added excitement of finding out whether you’re expecting a boy or a girl well before your NHS 20-week scan.
When and Why We Use Gender Scan
Parents choose a gender scan for a mix of practical and emotional reasons:
- Planning ahead — decorating the nursery, choosing a name, or telling family and friends.
- Wanting a proper “gender reveal” moment in a relaxed, private setting.
- Simple curiosity — many parents just don’t want to wait until 20 weeks.
- Extra reassurance alongside the gender result, such as confirming gestational age or checking the foetal heartbeat.
Most clinics open gender scan booking from 12 weeks, though accuracy rises significantly the further into the second trimester you go. Many expectant parents deliberately book a gender ultrasound between 15 and 16 weeks to reduce the chance of an inconclusive result and a follow-up visit.
What the Scan Includes
A typical baby scan gender appointment is built around three things: confirming your baby is doing well, taking a few basic measurements, and then focusing on the genital anatomy to determine sex. Some clinics extend this into a short wellbeing check, and most offer an optional 3D or 4D “sneak peek” as part of premium packages.
| Element | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Gestation window | Commonly 12-16 weeks, with gender scans possible up to around 32 weeks |
| Areas examined | Foetal viability and heartbeat, basic measurements, then genital anatomy |
| Duration | 5-15 minutes of active scanning within a 20-30 minute appointment, allowing time for check-in and results |
| Preparation | A full bladder (around 1 litre of water beforehand) may be requested for earlier scans |
| Equipment | Modern 2D ultrasound as standard, with 3D/4D available on some packages |
| Output | Printed and digital images, sometimes short video clips |
What to Expect on the Day
On arrival, you’ll check in, confirm your details, and have the procedure and any guest options explained before you go through. During the scan, you’ll lie back on the couch while gel is applied to your abdomen, and the sonographer will gently move the probe to capture the right views. If your baby is curled up or facing away, you may be asked to move around, cough, or take a short walk to encourage a better position.
Results are usually shared verbally on the day, or via a sealed envelope if you prefer to open it as part of a reveal at home. You’ll leave with printed and/or digital images, and some clinics send additional images or video by email or app afterwards. If your baby’s position genuinely prevents a clear result, most clinics — including ours — offer a free rescan rather than charging again.
Who Performs the Scan & Equipment Used
Gender scans are carried out by fully qualified sonographers, radiographers, or consultant obstetricians and fetal medicine specialists. Our clinicians bring NHS training and experience to every private appointment. Scans are performed on high-resolution ultrasound machines, with 2D imaging as standard and 3D/4D or HD Live options available for parents who want a more detailed “sneak peek” alongside the gender result.
Conditions Detected / Diagnostic Value
While the main purpose of a gender scan is to determine your baby’s sex, most reputable clinics build in a basic wellbeing check as standard — confirming the foetal heartbeat, movement, gestational age and, in some cases, placental position and amniotic fluid volume. This makes the appointment reassuring as well as exciting.
It’s worth being clear about what a gender scan is not: it is not a full anomaly or structural survey, and it should never replace your NHS 20-week anatomy scan. From around 15 weeks onwards, clinics typically report gender accuracy above 99%, though this always depends on the baby’s position and the sonographer’s skill on the day.
Safety and Limitations
Ultrasound uses sound waves rather than ionising radiation, and has a long, well-documented safety record in pregnancy care. According to the British Medical Ultrasound Society, safe practice depends on properly trained operators ensuring that
“the ultrasound exposure is kept as low as reasonably achievable”
— the ALARA principle followed by every clinic that takes safety seriously.
That said, a handful of factors can limit what any scan can show on a given day:
| Factor | Effect on the scan |
|---|---|
| Foetal position | A curled-up or turned-away baby can hide the genital area, sometimes needing a rescan |
| Earlier gestation | Smaller anatomy at 12-13 weeks is harder to read clearly than at 15-16 weeks+ |
| Higher maternal BMI | Can reduce image clarity through the abdominal wall |
| Low amniotic fluid | Less fluid around the baby can make some views harder to obtain |
No clinic can promise a 100% correct result, which is why many reserve the right to rescan when the view is genuinely unclear. It’s also worth noting that regulators discourage standalone “entertainment-only” gender scans with no wellbeing element at all — which is exactly why we build a basic check into every appointment.
Pricing & Booking
Prices for a private gender scan in London typically start from around £60-£100 for a straightforward appointment from 14-16 weeks. Packages that add 3D/4D imaging, video, or gender-reveal extras such as balloons or confetti tend to run from £100 to £150 or more.
| Package | What’s included | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard gender scan | 2D imaging, gender result, printed photo | Parents who mainly want the result confirmed |
| Gender scan + wellbeing check | 2D imaging, heartbeat and measurement check, gender result | Parents who also want reassurance |
| Premium 3D/4D reveal package | 3D/4D imaging, video clip, reveal extras | Parents planning a gender-reveal moment |
Booking is simple online or by phone, with same-day or next-day appointments often available. You may be asked for a few maternity details, such as your expected due date or notes from a previous scan, when you book.
Locations
We offer gender scans across central London and Surrey, with easy access by public transport and evening and weekend slots available.
| Location | Area | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Holborn | Central London | Well connected by Underground; convenient for parents working or living centrally |
| Banstead | Surrey | A quieter, out-of-town option for parents based south of London |
Our Clinicians & Specialist Team
Our team includes sonographers and radiographers with NHS backgrounds, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), alongside consultant obstetricians and fetal medicine specialists who are doctors registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). They take part in ongoing training and quality assurance, so you’re seen by someone who scans regularly and understands the small details that make a scan go smoothly. Just as importantly, our staff are warm and unhurried — many parents arrive nervous and leave reassured, whatever the news.
Patient Experience
Wherever possible, we deliver your images and results on the same day, with digital copies and any video sent promptly after your appointment. Our scan rooms are designed to be comfortable rather than clinical, with large screens so you (and any guests) can watch the scan unfold together. Many parents choose to bring a partner, and some clinics welcome grandparents or older children too, space permitting. It’s this combination of a genuinely memorable moment and professional care that tends to come through in patient reviews on Google and Trustpilot.
References & Governance
Our service is regulated under Care Quality Commission (CQC) oversight and follows recognised ultrasound safety guidelines, including the ALARA principle. Scans are carried out by HCPC-registered sonographers and radiographers, and by GMC-registered doctors where a consultant obstetrician or fetal medicine specialist is involved, all working in line with current professional standards and clinical protocols. A gender scan is a high-quality, enjoyable part of your pregnancy journey — but it complements your NHS antenatal screening programme and should never be treated as a replacement for it.
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