How early can you find out your baby's gender? Scan vs blood test
Finding out whether you're having a boy or a girl is one of the most exciting moments of pregnancy. Many parents don't want to wait until the NHS 20-week scan, and some NHS hospitals don't share the baby's sex at all. So how early can you find out, and which option is right for you?
The short answer
- From 6 weeks: our early gender blood test, which comes with a scan, can tell you your baby's sex.
- From 10 weeks: NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing), a blood test that screens for certain chromosomal conditions, can also report the baby's sex if you choose.
- From 15 weeks and 4 days: a gender scan can show your baby's sex on ultrasound.
- At 20 weeks: the NHS anomaly scan checks your baby's development. Whether the sonographer will tell you the sex depends on your hospital's policy.
How a gender scan works
A gender scan is an ultrasound scan, usually done through your tummy, where the sonographer looks for your baby's genitals. From 15 weeks and 4 days these have usually developed enough to be seen clearly, as long as baby is in a helpful position.
At Imaginatal you can bring up to 8 guests to share the moment, and every gender scan includes a check on baby's wellbeing. If baby won't cooperate, we'll re-scan you free of charge. Choose the package that suits you:
- Essential Gender (£84): the gender result, a wellbeing check, 1 print and your digital images.
- Gender Scan & Reveal (£94): as Essential, plus a second print, a confetti cannon and a pink or blue room-lighting reveal. You can add a 4D preview.
- VIB Gender (£126): as Reveal, plus a weight and growth check, 4 prints, 2 cannons and a full 4D video.
Planning a gender reveal party? Ask for a secret gender envelope. Your sonographer will make sure you don't see the screen, then write the result down and seal it in an envelope, ready for your reveal.
How the blood test works
During pregnancy, small fragments of your baby's DNA circulate in your blood. Blood tests look for genetic material from the Y chromosome. If it is found, the baby is very likely a boy; if not, a girl.
A blood test on its own can't show you your baby. That's why, at Imaginatal, our pregnancy blood tests come with a scan, so you see your baby and we can check baby's heartbeat before your sample is taken.
NIPT is mainly a screening test for conditions such as Down's syndrome (trisomy 21). Our NIPT options range from £330 to £540, and every one includes a free early scan. Baby's sex is included from our £360 NIPT (with X and Y), and you can add it to the £330 test for £15.
How accurate is it?
- Gender scan: highly accurate when the sonographer gets a clear view. If baby won't cooperate, we re-scan you free of charge, and in the rare case we get it wrong, we refund your scan fee.
- NIPT sex result: very accurate when the lab gets a result. Our NIPT is processed by Medicover Genetics (Veracity / VERAgene).
- No "nub" guesses: we don't offer gender predictions from early scans. We only call the sex from 15 weeks and 4 days on a gender scan, or from a blood test.
Which should I choose?
| Early blood test and scan | NIPT with sex and scan | Gender scan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earliest | 6 weeks | 10 weeks | 15 weeks + 4 days |
| See your baby | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Also screens for chromosomal conditions | No | Yes | No |
| Price at Imaginatal | £210 | from £330 (sex +£15) or from £360 (sex included) | £84–£126 |
If you want to know as early as possible, the early blood test from 6 weeks is the fastest route. If you'd also like screening for chromosomal conditions, choose NIPT from 10 weeks. If you're happy to wait until 15 weeks and 4 days, a gender scan is the simplest and lowest-cost option, and you can bring the family.
Book at a clinic near you
We have clinics in Bristol, Cardiff, Gloucester, Leicester, Liverpool, Oxford, Romford and Whitechapel (East London).
This article is general information and isn't a substitute for advice from your midwife or doctor.
