The early pregnancy scan is usually carried out transvaginally at 6-10 weeks of gestation.
The aim of the early pregnancy scan is to assess that:

The pregnancy develops inside the uterus

It is crucial to demonstrate that the pregnancy develops inside the uterine cavity in order to exclude ectopic pregnancy. If in doubt, it is necessary to perform specific blood tests and to reassess.

The pregnancy does not develop within the Caesarean Section scar

In women who delivered by Caesarean Section in the past, we need to ensure that the gestational sac does not develop inside the scar. The diagnosis of a Caesarean Scar pregnancy is of great importance because this type of complication could lead to life-threatening complications for the mother.

The number of embryos

The early pregnancy scan is the best method to assess if there is a singleton or multiple pregnancies and, in the case of multiple pregnancies, if the embryos share the same placenta.

The pregnancy develops normally

With the early pregnancy scan we can be reassured that the pregnancy develops normally, This is extremely important in cases of pain or bleeding or if there is a past obstetric history of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

Examine the uterus and the ovaries

The early pregnancy scan could be a good opportunity, especially for women who do not attend regularly for gynaecological check-up, to examine the ovaries and exclude the presence of ovarian cysts or masses. We can also assess the shape of the uterus and exclude congenital uterine anomalies such as bicornuate uterus.