Blog
May 26, 2026
A positive pregnancy test brings immense joy, but it is often quickly followed by a need for certainty. Is the pregnancy in the right place? Is there a heartbeat? Because the first public healthcare ultrasound in Finland is typically not scheduled until gestational week 12, many expecting parents choose to book a private early ultrasound for peace of mind.
At Ovumia, our experienced gynecologists provide safe, high-resolution early pregnancy ultrasounds to give you the reassurance you need during those anxious first weeks.
An early pregnancy ultrasound is performed during the first trimester. Its primary purposes are to:
Confirm the location of the pregnancy: Ensure the embryo has implanted in the uterus and rule out an ectopic pregnancy (which can be a life-threatening medical emergency).
Detect the heartbeat: Confirming cardiac activity is the strongest indicator of a viable pregnancy and significantly drops the statistical risk of miscarriage.
Determine the number of fetuses: Check for twins or multiples.
Accurately date the pregnancy: Measure the crown-rump length (CRL) of the embryo to determine the exact gestational age and estimated due date.
Timing is critical for an early ultrasound. Patients often want to book a scan the moment they get a positive test, but going too early can cause unnecessary panic.
We strongly recommend booking your early ultrasound between gestational weeks 7+0 and 8+0 (calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period).
While a gestational sac might be visible as early as week 5, the fetal heartbeat usually only becomes reliably visible via ultrasound after week 6. If you come in at week 5 or early week 6 and no heartbeat is found, it does not necessarily mean a miscarriage—it may just be too early. Waiting until week 7 ensures that if the pregnancy is developing normally, the heartbeat will be clearly visible.
In early pregnancy, the uterus is still located deep within the pelvis, hidden behind the pubic bone. Therefore, early ultrasounds are almost exclusively performed transvaginally (through the vagina).
This method allows the ultrasound probe to get much closer to the uterus, providing a much clearer and more detailed image than an abdominal scan would at this stage. The procedure is generally completely painless and safe for both the mother and the developing fetus.
The price consists of the gynecologist's appointment fee and the ultrasound equipment fee. You can find the exact, up-to-date pricing on our Price List page. Please note that Kela reimbursements may apply if the scan is medically indicated (e.g., due to pain or bleeding).
If you experience severe lower abdominal pain or heavy bleeding, you should seek medical evaluation immediately, as these can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage. In such cases, an ultrasound is performed to assess the situation regardless of the exact week.
Are you expecting and wanting to ensure everything is progressing as it should? Book an early pregnancy ultrasound at your nearest Ovumia clinic in Helsinki, Tampere, Jyväskylä, or Kuopio. Our specialists are here to support you at the very beginning of your journey.
Book an early ultrasound
