What is the Viability Scan?

A viability scan is an early pregnancy ultrasound typically performed between 7-10 weeks of pregnancy. It is often the first scan conducted during pregnancy and is sometimes referred to as a dating scan.

Purpose of a Viability Scan

The primary goals of a viability scan include:

• Confirming that the pregnancy is within the uterus and not ectopic
• Verifying the presence of a heartbeat to ensure the baby is alive
• Determining the number of embryos
• Dating the pregnancy and providing an Estimated Due Date (EDD)
• Identifying any abnormalities in early pregnancy
• Checking for signs of internal bleeding

How is the Viability Scan Performed?

The scan is generally performed using an abdominal ultrasound. In some cases, a transvaginal scan may be necessary for clearer imaging.

Who Should Consider a Viability Scan?

A viability scan is recommended if:

• You’ve had a previous miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy
• You experience spotting, bleeding, or pain during early pregnancy
• You have undergone IVF treatment and want reassurance about embryo development

Next Steps After the Viability Scan

Following a viability scan, the next step often includes non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which can be performed from 10 weeks. NIPT checks for common chromosomal conditions like Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome, and Patau Syndrome, and it can also determine the baby’s gender.

Additionally, a nuchal translucency scan is recommended around 12 weeks. This scan provides probabilities for chromosomal conditions with approximately 95% accuracy.