How accurate is a gender scan at 16 weeks?
Very accurate: at the 16-week scan the external genitals are developed enough for an experienced sonographer to identify the sex with well over 99% confidence, provided your baby is lying in a position that allows a clear view. If the view is not good enough, your sonographer will say so honestly rather than guess, and we will try again later in the appointment.
What if my baby will not show the gender?
It happens occasionally, usually because of position or the umbilical cord. Your sonographer will ask you to move around, empty your bladder or come back to the view a little later in the appointment, and the vast majority of the time that is enough. If the sex genuinely cannot be seen, we arrange a short repeat scan rather than leave you without an answer.
What does the wellbeing part of the scan check?
Alongside the gender reveal your sonographer measures your baby (head, abdomen and thigh bone) to check growth, confirms the heartbeat and movements, assesses the amniotic fluid and the position of the placenta, and takes a basic look at the anatomy. It is reassurance that your baby is developing as expected at the halfway point, not a substitute for the detailed anomaly scan.
Is the gender scan the same as the anomaly scan?
No. The anomaly scan at 18 to 24 weeks is a detailed, systematic examination of your baby’s anatomy and takes around 40 minutes. The gender and wellbeing scan at 16 to 18 weeks is a shorter check of growth and wellbeing with the sex reveal. Many parents have both: the gender scan for the early answer, the anomaly scan for the full check.
Can I keep the gender a surprise?
Of course. Tell your sonographer before the scan starts and the sex will be kept off the screen and out of the report. If you would like it for a gender reveal, we can write it down and seal it in an envelope for you to open whenever and however you choose.
Can my partner, family and children come to the gender scan?
Yes: partners, parents, friends and your children are all welcome in the room, and the screen faces you so everyone can share the moment. The reveal is often the most memorable part of a pregnancy, and we give it the time it deserves.
Do I need a full bladder for a gender scan?
Not usually at 16 weeks: your baby and the womb are large enough to see clearly through your tummy. A little fluid in your bladder can help the view, so there is no need to empty it just before the appointment, but you do not need to drink extra water either.
How long does a gender and wellbeing scan take?
Around 25 minutes. That gives time for the growth measurements, the wellbeing checks, the reveal itself and plenty of time with your baby on screen, with your sonographer explaining what you are seeing as you go. Your scan images and written report are ready before you leave.
Do I get pictures of my baby?
Yes: your scan images are on your secure portal the same day, and digital copies are on your secure patient portal to share with family. Your sonographer will do their best to capture a clear profile picture as well as the medical images.
Is the gender scan a 3D or 4D scan?
The gender and wellbeing scan is a diagnostic 2D ultrasound on hospital-grade equipment: the clearest way to check your baby’s growth, heartbeat, fluid and placenta and to identify the sex reliably. You will see your baby in real time and get your scan images on your portal. If you are hoping for 3D or 4D keepsake images, ask us when you book and we will tell you exactly what is available.
What if the scan finds something unexpected?
Most gender and wellbeing scans are entirely reassuring. If your sonographer sees anything that needs a closer look, they explain it gently in the room, a consultant review is available the same day, and we arrange the right next step with your report, including referral to a fetal medicine specialist where appropriate.
Can a gender scan be done for twins?
Yes. Your sonographer checks the growth and wellbeing of each baby separately and can usually identify the sex of both, although two babies sharing the space sometimes make the view harder, which can take a little longer. The appointment is planned with that in mind.
Can I find out the sex earlier than 16 weeks?
On a scan, 16 weeks is the earliest point at which the answer is reliable. If you would like to know sooner, NIPT can report the sex from 10 weeks by reading your baby’s DNA from a blood sample, and includes screening for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes.
How much does a private gender scan cost in London?
£190 at Harley Street Ultrasound, all fees inclusive: the wellbeing checks, the reveal, your sonographer’s time, your scan images and your written report. You can book online without a referral, with same-day and next-day appointments usually available.
Will the NHS tell me the sex of my baby?
Usually at the 20-week anomaly scan, if you ask and if the view allows, although policy varies between hospitals and some do not disclose it. A private gender scan in London at 16 weeks gives you the answer earlier, in a relaxed appointment, and never affects your NHS care.
What if something needs a closer look?
Your sonographer tells you in the room, gently and in plain English, and explains exactly what it means. You are never sent home to wait for a letter. Most of the time a finding simply needs a repeat scan in a week or two, or a measurement checked again at the next routine scan.
If something genuinely needs attention, a consultant review is available the same day, and we arrange the next step for you: a referral to a fetal medicine specialist or early pregnancy unit, with your report and images, through our hospital partners. You will not be left alone with a worry.
Do I need a referral?
No. Harley Street Ultrasound is a private clinic, so you can book a gender & wellbeing scan in London directly online or by phone, with no GP or midwife letter and no waiting list. Same-day and next-day appointments are usually available, and we are at 99 Harley Street, a short walk from Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus stations.
The price is published before you book: £190, all fees inclusive, covering the scan, your sonographer’s time, your scan images and your written report. Pregnancy scans are usually self-pay; if you are insured, check whether your policy covers pregnancy scanning before you book.
How soon will I have the written report?
The same day. You will already know what was seen, because your sonographer explains everything on screen as the scan happens, and your written report is published to your secure patient portal with your images before the day ends, ready to share with your midwife, GP or consultant.
Your scan images are on your secure portal the same day.
Is ultrasound safe for my baby?
Yes. Ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, and has been used in pregnancy for more than fifty years with no confirmed harmful effects on babies. Our sonographers keep scan times to what is clinically needed and use hospital-grade equipment, so a scan can be repeated safely whenever it is useful.
Can I still have my NHS scans afterwards?
Yes, completely. A private scan with us never affects your NHS maternity care: keep every NHS appointment as planned. Many parents book with us for extra reassurance between NHS scans, or for a scan the NHS does not routinely offer. If anything needs attention, your sonographer writes to your midwife or GP so that you re-enter the NHS pathway with the findings already in hand.
