Antral Follicle Count (AFC) Scan in London
A single early-cycle ultrasound counting the small resting follicles in both ovaries — one of the standard markers of ovarian reserve, and one of the first scans fertility clinics ask about.
£159 — self-referral, results explained at your appointment
What does an AFC scan measure?
Antral follicles are the small, resting follicles — roughly 2 to 10 millimetres — visible in the ovaries at the start of a cycle, each holding an immature egg. A transvaginal ultrasound early in your cycle counts them in both ovaries, and that count is one of the standard markers used to estimate ovarian reserve: broadly, how your ovaries are likely to respond, particularly to fertility treatment.
It is commonly requested before IVF, considered alongside an AMH blood test arranged through your GP or fertility clinic, and useful for women who simply want an informed picture while planning ahead — our guide to ultrasound for ovarian reserve explains the fuller context.
What an AFC can — and cannot — tell you
It can give a well-established snapshot of how many follicles are available this cycle, help predict response to ovarian stimulation in IVF, and flag counts that are higher or lower than expected for your age — information that genuinely shapes fertility planning.
It cannot measure egg quality, predict whether you will conceive naturally, or put a date on your fertility — and any clinic implying a single count can do those things is overselling it. A low count is a planning signal, not a verdict; a high count can point towards polycystic ovaries and is read in context — see PCOS and follicular scans.
What to expect at your AFC appointment
- 1
Time it early in your cycleThe count is most meaningful in the early follicular phase — typically the first few days after your period starts. Call with your cycle dates and we will book the right day, at short notice if needed.
- 2
A short transvaginal scanBoth ovaries are examined and the antral follicles counted — usually 30 minutes, with you in control throughout. First time? Read what to expect.
- 3
Results explained, report usually within two hoursYour count and what it suggests are discussed at the appointment, with a written report for your GP or fertility clinic usually within two hours.
AFC scans — your questions answered
When in my cycle should the AFC be done?
What is a “normal” AFC?
Do I need an AMH blood test too?
Can I have an AFC and follicle tracking together?
Alongside your AFC
The timing half of the picture — following your follicles and lining across a full cycle.
About tracking →
HubAll Fertility ScansHow reserve and timing scans fit together, and which answers which question.
Fertility scans →
GuideFertility Testing GuideEarlier in the journey? The plain-English map of what gets tested, and why.
Read the guide →
Where can you get an AFC scan in London?
IUS London is a CQC-registered diagnostic ultrasound clinic at 5a Lucerne Mews, Kensington, London W8 4ED — three minutes’ walk from Notting Hill Gate station.
Timing matters for an AFC: call 0203 051 6506 with your cycle dates and we will book the right early-cycle day — at short notice if your period has just started.
Getting here
Tube: Notting Hill Gate — Central, Circle and District lines — 3 minutes’ walk.
Address: 5a Lucerne Mews, Kensington, London W8 4ED.
Know where you stand
A single early-cycle scan, honestly explained at the appointment — with a written report your fertility clinic can use, usually within two hours.
This page is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or fertility specialist.
Written and clinically reviewed by the HCPC-registered sonographers who perform this scan at IUS London — a CQC-registered diagnostic ultrasound clinic (Provider ID 1-2775844974). Your own findings are explained to you at the scan and set out in your report.
Author: Yianni Kiromitis, Senior Sonographer, HCPC RA38415
Medically reviewed: 31 July 2026