What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
The aorta is the body’s main artery, running from the heart down through the chest and abdomen. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a widening of the section that passes through your tummy, where the artery wall has weakened and bulged.
Most aneurysms grow slowly and cause no symptoms at all, which is exactly why screening matters. A large aneurysm that ruptures is a life-threatening emergency, whereas one found early is either monitored or repaired as a planned operation, with excellent results.
Who should have AAA screening?
In England the NHS invites men for a single AAA screening scan in the year they turn 65, because men over 65 carry most of the risk. Many people choose to be checked privately earlier, or outside the programme, if they:
- Are a man aged 55 or over
- Have ever smoked
- Have a parent, brother or sister who had an aortic aneurysm
- Have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other vascular disease
- Are a woman with these risk factors
If you are unsure, call us and a clinician will happily advise before you book.
Can women have AAA screening?
Yes. Women are not routinely invited by the NHS because aneurysms are less common in women, but they are not immune, and when they do occur they tend to rupture at smaller sizes. If you are a woman who has smoked, has high blood pressure or has a close relative with an aneurysm, a private AAA screening scan is a sensible, simple check.
Is AAA screening worth it?
For people at risk, yes: the NHS programme exists because screening men at 65 has been shown to reduce deaths from ruptured aneurysm. The scan takes minutes, is painless, uses no radiation, and gives a clear, documented answer.
For most people that answer is a normal aorta, which at 65 or over usually means no further screening is needed at all.
How is AAA screening done?
It is a simple ultrasound scan of your tummy. You lie on the couch, a little gel is applied, and the specialist moves a small probe over your abdomen to find the aorta and measure its width at the widest point. You keep your clothes on apart from lifting your top, and the result is explained to you before you leave.
Does AAA screening hurt?
No. The probe rests gently on the skin with a little warm gel. No needles, no radiation and no downtime. The specialist may press slightly to move bowel gas out of the way, which can feel firm for a moment but is not painful. If anything feels uncomfortable, tell your specialist and they will adjust.
Do I need to fast before AAA screening?
No fasting is needed. You can eat, drink water and take your usual medication as normal. Bowel gas is the only thing that can hide the aorta, so avoiding a large meal or fizzy drinks for a couple of hours beforehand helps, but it is not essential and we will always get the measurement we need.
How long does AAA screening take?
The scan itself usually takes around ten minutes. With a short conversation beforehand and time to explain your result, you are normally in and out of the clinic within half an hour.
What does an AAA ultrasound show?
AAA screening is a single, decisive measurement:
- The abdominal aorta traced along its length
- Its diameter at the widest point, in centimetres
- Classified against the standard thresholds: normal, small, medium or large
- The iliac arteries noted where the aorta divides
What do the AAA measurements mean?
Your result is graded against the thresholds used by the NHS AAA Screening Programme:
- Under 3cm: normal. At 65 or over, usually no further screening is needed
- 3.0 to 4.4cm: small aneurysm, monitored with a scan every year
- 4.5 to 5.4cm: medium aneurysm, monitored with a scan every three months
- 5.5cm or more: large aneurysm, referred urgently to a vascular surgeon
Your specialist explains exactly where you sit and what happens next before you leave.
How often should AAA screening be done?
If your aorta is normal at 65 or over, a single scan is usually enough: aneurysms rarely develop after that if the aorta is normal. A small or medium aneurysm needs regular surveillance, yearly or every three months depending on size, and if you were scanned younger, your specialist will suggest a sensible re-check interval in your report.
Can an ultrasound detect an aortic aneurysm, or do I need a CT scan?
Ultrasound is the standard screening test for an abdominal aortic aneurysm: it is accurate, quick, painless and uses no radiation, which is why the NHS programme uses it. It can very occasionally be limited by bowel gas or body shape, in which case your specialist will tell you honestly.
CT is used when an aneurysm needs detailed planning for surgery, or to look at the aorta in the chest, which ultrasound cannot reach. A blood test cannot detect an aneurysm.
What are the symptoms of an aortic aneurysm?
Usually none: most abdominal aortic aneurysms are found by screening or by chance on a scan for something else. Some people notice a pulsing feeling in the tummy, or persistent tummy or back pain.
Sudden, severe pain in the tummy or lower back can be a sign of rupture. This is an emergency: call 999 immediately. Do not book a scan.
How much does AAA screening cost in the UK?
At Harley Street Ultrasound a private AAA screening scan costs £260, all fees inclusive: the scan, the specialist’s time, your written report and images. The NHS screens men free of charge in the year they turn 65; booking privately lets you be checked at any age, at a time that suits you, with the result explained the same day.
What if you find something?
Your specialist tells you in the room, in plain English, and explains exactly what it means. You will never be sent home to wait for a letter. Most findings are benign and need nothing more than a sensible review date.
Anything that does need attention gets a clear, objective recommendation in your report: monitor, test further, or refer. Follow-up tests can usually be arranged at 99 Harley Street, often the same week, and those results are also explained to you personally.
Do I need a referral?
No. Harley Street Ultrasound is a private clinic, so you can book an AAA screening scan in London directly online or by phone. No GP letter, no waiting list, and same-day or next-day appointments are usually available. If you are searching for an AAA screening scan near me from anywhere in central London, we are at 99 Harley Street, a short walk from Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus stations.
If you are wondering how much a private AAA screening scan costs, the answer is published before you book: £260, all fees inclusive: the examination, the specialist’s time, your written report and your images. Insured patients should bring a referral or authorisation number if their policy requires one.
How soon will I have the written report?
Usually the same day: a Harley Street AAA screening scan comes with same-day results as standard, and you will already know the findings, because they are explained to you on screen during the appointment.
The written report is prepared by the specialist team and published to your secure patient portal together with your images, with measurements and a clear recommendation, ready to share with your GP or specialist.
What happens after the scan?
Nothing special: there is no aftercare needed. You can eat, drive and go back to work straight away. Diagnostic ultrasound at these intensities has no confirmed adverse effects, which is why it can be repeated safely for monitoring. If your results suggest a next step, your specialist explains it before you leave.
Can I still use the NHS afterwards?
Yes: completely. Coming to us privately never affects your NHS care. Our job is to get you answers quickly; if anything needs urgent attention, your specialist writes to your NHS GP recommending an urgent appointment, so you re-enter the NHS pathway with a diagnosis already in hand rather than joining the queue from the start.
