Early Pregnancy Scan in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is an early pregnancy scan?
An early pregnancy scan is an ultrasound of the womb and pelvis in the first weeks of pregnancy, arranged because a doctor needs a clear answer to a clinical question. Sound waves create live pictures of the womb, the pregnancy sac, the developing baby and the ovaries. Ultrasound uses no ionising radiation, and it has been used safely in pregnancy for decades.
This is a diagnostic scan with a purpose. It differs from the routine schedule of scans that follows a healthy pregnancy, which is described on the pregnancy ultrasound page, and from the optional 4D scan, which shows moving images of the baby's face later in pregnancy. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, obstetric ultrasound requested for a clinical question is performed in the Radiology department, and the report goes to the doctor who asked for it.
Who needs it
Your doctor may arrange an early pregnancy scan when one of these questions needs answering:
- Bleeding or spotting in early pregnancy, to see whether the pregnancy is continuing
- Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, including pain on one side
- Where the pregnancy is, to confirm that it is inside the womb, especially after a previous ectopic pregnancy, tubal surgery or fertility treatment
- A heartbeat, to check that the pregnancy is developing
- Uncertain dates, when periods are irregular or the last period date is unknown
- More than one baby, when twins are suspected
- A result from elsewhere that needs a second look, for example a scan performed at another clinic or in another country
Most requests come from a gynecologist in Gynecology and Obstetrics, from the Maternity team, from the emergency department, or from a family doctor. A pregnancy test result, a blood hormone level, or your symptoms usually prompt the request.
What happens
The scan is carried out in a private room, and you lie on a couch. There are two ways of scanning in early pregnancy, and both are routine:
| Approach | How it is done | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal | Gel on the lower abdomen and a probe moved over the skin, with a full bladder | Later in the first trimester, and for a first overall view |
| Transvaginal (internal) | A slim probe with a protective cover placed gently in the vagina | The first weeks, when the pregnancy is very small and sits deep in the pelvis |
A transvaginal scan gives a much sharper picture in the first weeks because the probe sits closer to the womb. It is performed only with your consent, after an explanation, and you can ask for a chaperone, or for your husband or a family member, to be present. The probe is moved gently, and most women find it more comfortable than they expected.
The person scanning measures the pregnancy sac and the baby, looks for the heartbeat, counts how many babies there are, and checks the ovaries and the area around the womb. The length of the baby from head to bottom in the first trimester gives an accurate estimate of the due date, because babies grow at a very similar rate at this stage.
Preparing for it
- Drink water beforehand and arrive with a comfortably full bladder, unless you are told otherwise. A full bladder lifts the womb into view for the abdominal scan. If an internal scan follows, you empty your bladder first.
- Bring your pregnancy test result, blood test results and earlier scan reports, including any from another clinic. Blood hormone levels help the radiologist interpret what the scan shows at a given stage.
- Know the first day of your last period, if you can, and mention fertility treatment or an embryo transfer date.
- Wear a two-piece outfit, so you can uncover your lower abdomen easily.
- During Ramadan, tell the team when the scan is arranged; a full-bladder scan can be timed after iftar.
Afterwards
You can go back to your usual activities straight away. The radiologist reports the scan to the doctor who requested it, and that doctor explains the findings with you, together with your symptoms and blood results. Your pregnancy care then continues with your obstetric team through antenatal care.
If the scan is early and the pregnancy is still too small to see clearly, a repeat scan after an interval is a common and planned next step, sometimes with a repeat blood test.
Contact your doctor if bleeding continues or increases, or if pain returns after the scan. Go to the emergency department straight away if you have severe pain on one side of the abdomen, pain in the tip of your shoulder, you feel faint or collapse, or you have heavy bleeding in early pregnancy.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover an obstetric ultrasound when a doctor requests it for bleeding, pain or another clinical reason. Maternity benefits often have their own terms, including waiting periods from the start of the policy, so check how your plan treats early pregnancy scans and whether pre-approval is needed. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the risks and limits of an early pregnancy scan?
An early pregnancy scan has no known risk to the mother or baby, including the internal scan, and it uses no ionising radiation. Its main limit is timing: in the first weeks a pregnancy can be too small to see clearly, so the result may be uncertain and a repeat scan after an interval, sometimes with a blood hormone test, is needed.
Is an internal (transvaginal) scan safe in early pregnancy?
A transvaginal scan is safe in early pregnancy and does not cause miscarriage. The probe sits in the vagina, well away from the pregnancy, and gives clearer pictures in the first weeks. It is performed only with your consent, and you can ask for a chaperone to be present.
Why can't the heartbeat be seen on my scan yet?
A heartbeat is sometimes too early to see, especially when dates are uncertain or ovulation happened later than expected. This is a common reason for an inconclusive scan. Your doctor usually arranges a repeat scan after an interval to give a clear answer.
Does bleeding in early pregnancy mean a miscarriage?
Bleeding in early pregnancy does not always mean a miscarriage, and many pregnancies with early bleeding continue normally. An early pregnancy scan helps show whether the pregnancy is continuing and where it is. Heavy bleeding, severe pain or feeling faint needs the emergency department straight away.
How does a scan check for an ectopic pregnancy?
An early pregnancy scan checks for an ectopic pregnancy by looking for the pregnancy sac inside the womb and examining the tubes and ovaries. When the pregnancy cannot yet be seen, blood hormone levels and a repeat scan help reach an answer. Severe one-sided pain or shoulder-tip pain needs emergency care immediately.
How accurate is the due date from an early scan?
A due date from an early pregnancy scan is usually more accurate than one calculated from the last period, because babies grow at a very similar rate in the first trimester. Your doctor may adjust your due date based on this measurement, and later scans are timed from it.
Is an early pregnancy scan covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover an early pregnancy scan requested by a doctor for bleeding, pain or another clinical reason, although maternity benefits can have waiting periods and pre-approval rules. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
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