Female Scans
AAA Screening
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a swelling of the main blood vessel in the abdomen. It usually causes no symptoms at all until it becomes serious, which is exactly why screening exists. A single short ultrasound measures the aorta and tells you whether it is a normal size. Carried out and reported by a qualified sonographer in Great Yarmouth, usually within a few days of booking.
Prices from £175
AAA Screening Norfolk
What Is An AAA Screening Scan?
The aorta is the body’s largest artery, carrying blood from the heart down through the chest and abdomen. In some people the wall of the abdominal section weakens with age and begins to bulge outwards, forming an aneurysm. Small aneurysms rarely cause symptoms, but larger ones carry a risk of rupture, which is a life threatening emergency. Finding an aneurysm early means it can simply be monitored, and treated in a planned way if it ever grows large enough to need it.
This scan uses ultrasound to look at the abdominal aorta along its length and measure its width precisely. A small handheld probe is moved down the middle of your abdomen and sound waves build a live image on screen. There is no radiation and no injection, and the measurement itself takes only a few minutes.
Women are not included in the NHS screening programme, which invites men only, yet women can and do develop aneurysms, particularly those who have smoked or have a family history. This scan gives women access to the same simple check.
Included in your scan
What’s Covered
- Abdominal aorta: viewed along its full length from below the ribs to where it divides in the lower abdomen.
- Precise measurement: the width of the aorta measured at its widest point, which is the figure that matters.
- Iliac arteries: a look at the two branch vessels where the aorta divides, where the view allows.
- Clear classification: your result explained on the day as normal, or as a small, medium or large aneurysm with the appropriate next step.
Registered & Regulated
Norfolk Medical Imaging is registered with the Care Quality Commission and every scan is performed by a sonographer registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. The person who scans you is the person who reports your images and explains what they mean. Nothing is sent anywhere to be read.
AAA Screening Private Ultrasound
Who is it for?
The NHS screening programme invites men only, yet women develop aneurysms too. These are the women who benefit most from taking the same fifteen-minute check.
Women Who Smoke
Smoking is the strongest risk factor after age, for women as much as men.
Ex-Smokers
Risk remains raised for years after quitting, so former smokers benefit too.
Family History
A parent or sibling with an aneurysm significantly raises your own risk.
Women Over 65
Risk rises with age, and the NHS does not invite women at any age.
High Blood Pressure
Raised blood pressure and cholesterol both weaken the artery wall over time.
Peace of Mind
A normal result is genuinely reassuring, and one scan is usually all you need.
AAA Screening Ultrasound Great Yarmouth
What To Expect
One of the simplest scans we offer: a few minutes of measurement, a clear result, and an explanation of exactly what it means before you leave.
Duration
Around 10 - 15 minutes of scanning. Allow up to 30 minutes at the clinic, including time to talk through your result on the day.
Preparation
Do not eat for four hours before your appointment, as an empty stomach reduces the bowel gas that sits in front of the aorta. Still water is fine and regular medication should be taken as normal. If you cannot fast for medical reasons, tell us when you book and we'll adapt.
What the experience is like
You will lie on your back with your abdomen exposed. Warm gel is applied and the probe is moved down the centre of your abdomen, following the line of the aorta, with light pressure and the occasional held breath. It is comfortable throughout, and your measurement is explained before you leave.
AAA Screening
What to expect
Prices From £175 - £250
One price covering the scan, the sonographer's time and your written report. No consultation fee and nothing added on afterwards. If we recommend looking at another area on the day, we will tell you the cost before we do it.