What is follicle tracking?
Follicle tracking, sometimes called an ovulation scan, is a series of ultrasound scans across your menstrual cycle that measure the follicles on your ovaries, the small fluid-filled sacs that each contain an egg. It shows whether a follicle grows and releases an egg, when you ovulate, and how your womb lining develops.
Why might I need follicle tracking?
It is useful if you are trying to conceive and want to time intercourse or insemination accurately, have irregular cycles or PCOS, are taking ovulation-inducing medicine such as letrozole or clomifene, or want to confirm whether you ovulate at all.
How many follicle tracking scans will I need, and when?
Usually two to four scans in one cycle. In a typical 28-day cycle the first scan is around day eight to ten, then every two to three days until the leading follicle is ready, with a final scan to confirm ovulation. Irregular cycles may need a different plan.
What size should a follicle be to ovulate?
In a natural cycle the leading follicle usually ovulates at around 18 to 25mm. It typically grows by about 1 to 2mm a day. Your specialist explains what your measurements mean and when your most fertile days are likely to be.
How does follicle tracking confirm ovulation?
After ovulation, the follicle collapses and is replaced by a structure called the corpus luteum, often with a little free fluid nearby. Seeing this on a scan, a day or two after the follicle was ready, confirms that you have ovulated.
What thickness should the womb lining be?
Around the time of ovulation, a womb lining of about 7mm or more with a layered (trilaminar) appearance is considered favourable for implantation. Your specialist measures it at each scan.
Does follicle size indicate egg quality?
Not directly. Follicle size tells us how close a follicle is to releasing an egg, not the quality of the egg inside it. Egg quality depends mostly on age and other factors that a scan cannot measure.
Is follicle tracking better than ovulation test kits?
They measure different things. Ovulation kits detect the hormone surge that usually comes just before ovulation, but cannot confirm an egg was released. Follicle tracking watches the follicle grow and confirms ovulation directly, which is more reliable with irregular cycles or PCOS, when kits can give misleading results.
Can a follicle tracking scan detect pregnancy?
No. Follicle tracking happens before and around ovulation, too early for a pregnancy to be seen. A pregnancy test is reliable from the day your period is due, and an early pregnancy scan can show a pregnancy from around six weeks.
Can follicle tracking help with PCOS or absent ovulation?
Yes. In PCOS, ovulation can be irregular or absent; tracking shows whether a follicle is developing and releasing an egg, and is often used to monitor ovulation-inducing medicine safely, checking that not too many follicles develop at once.
Can follicle tracking support IUI or IVF treatment?
Yes. Tracking times intrauterine insemination (IUI) and trigger injections precisely. For IVF, monitoring is usually done by your fertility clinic, but we can provide scans and reports to share with your clinic if helpful.
Is follicle tracking painful?
No. The transvaginal scan is gentle and brief, and most women find it no more uncomfortable than a smear test, often less. It uses sound waves, not radiation, so repeated scans in a cycle are completely safe.
How long does each follicle tracking scan take?
Each scan takes around ten to fifteen minutes, including time to explain your measurements and plan the next visit.
How much does follicle tracking cost?
At Harley Street Ultrasound a private ovulation and follicle tracking scan costs £260, all fees inclusive. Ask us about the number of scans your cycle is likely to need when you book.
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 a follicle tracking 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 a follicle tracking 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 follicle tracking 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 follicle tracking 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.
