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What is a fetal anomaly?

As part of the NHS Fetal Anomaly screening programme, all women in England should be offered a minimum of 2 ultrasound scans during their pregnancy to screen for physical (structural) abnormalities in their unborn babies.

An anomaly scan will not detect every case of abnormality. Please refer to the NICE Guideline for more information.

The aim of the fetal anomaly scan is to detect possible physical problems, particularly those:

• Not compatible with life
• Associated with high morbidity and long term disability
• Fetal conditions with the potential for treatment before birth
• Fetal conditions that will require postnatal investigations or treatments

For more information on Fetal Anomaly and the conditions that can be scanned for at the Ultrasound Stage, please consult the following two publications: "Testing for Down's syndrome during pregnancy" and "Having a mid-pregnancy ultrasound scan"

"Having a mid-pregnancy ultrasound", produced by experts to the National Screening Programme, will give women and their partners some information about the ultrasound scan which is usually undertaken between 18 - 20 weeks of pregnancy in their local hospital.

It is advised that all women discuss the offer of the ultrasound scan, the procedure and outcomes with their midwife or doctor before they undergo the screening test.
An anomaly scan will not detect every case of abnormality as some abnormalities cannot be seen on the Ultrasound.