SHORT ANSWER: No, it's not a good idea to have a gender scan before 16 weeks because your baby's sex organs won't have developed enough to show up on an ultrasound. If you want to know the gender as early as possible, DNA-based blood tests are available from just 6 weeks.
Finding out whether you're having a boy or a girl is a very exciting part of the pregnancy journey, and understandably, many parents-to-be are eager to find out the sex as early as possible.
Here at First Encounters Ultrasound, we offer gender scans starting from 16 weeks into your pregnancy. This is the earliest point at which we can be reasonably confident of obtaining accurate gender confirmation via an ultrasound scan.
Why Can't I Have a Gender Scan Before 16 Weeks?
Although your baby's genetic sex is determined at the point of conception, the external sex organs take months to develop. In the earlier stages of pregnancy, these features are simply not visible on an ultrasound scan.
By around 16 weeks, your baby's sexual characteristics should be sufficiently developed for a trained sonographer to identify them. This is why 16 weeks is widely treated as the minimum for a gender confirmation scan.
Do Other Clinics Offer Gender Scans Before 16 Weeks?
Yes, some ultrasound clinics do offer baby gender scans slightly earlier than 16 weeks. However, we strongly advise you to hold on until at least the 16-week mark.
We understand that the wait can be very frustrating, especially if you're keen to start organising the gender reveal party, shopping for baby clothes and narrowing down your list of possible names. But when it comes to ultrasound gender confirmation, timing really matters. Waiting until at least 16 weeks gives the sonographer a much better chance of making an accurate assessment, and reduces your risk of going home disappointed.
At First Encounters Ultrasound, our priority is always to provide clear, careful and professional information. That's why our gender scans are only available from 16 weeks onwards.
What If I Want to Find Out Earlier?
If you're eager to find out your baby's sex as early as possible, you don't necessarily have to wait until you're 16 weeks along.
First Encounters Ultrasound offer an early gender DNA test from just 6 weeks. This is a blood test rather than an ultrasound scan, and it can give you a 99.9% accurate assessment of your baby's sex long before an ultrasound gender check would be possible.
If you have any questions about our different gender confirmation options, please don't hesitate to contact the First Encounters team for expert advice. We want your pregnancy to be as magical as possible – and when you come to us for gender confirmation, we'll do our very best to give you a clear and confident answer!
FURTHER READING: How Do Sonographers Determine a Baby's Gender?
