AAA screening for men at 65 in the UK: why the NHS invites you for an abdominal ultrasound

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a swelling of the aorta, the main vessel carrying blood from the heart to the abdomen and legs. The danger is that it usually grows without symptoms, and if it bursts it is life-threatening. To find it early, the NHS invites men for a free check. Here is who is invited and how it works.

Who is invited?

Screening is offered to men in the year they turn 65. The invitation arrives by letter with an appointment already booked, usually 3–6 weeks ahead. Men registered with a GP are invited automatically. If you are 65 and no letter came, contact your local AAA screening service to book.

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Why only men?

Aneurysms are much rarer in women, so they are not routinely invited. Men under 65 and those already treated for an AAA are not invited either. People at higher risk — for example with a family history, high blood pressure, diabetes, a long-term lung condition, or who smoke — can ask their GP about a scan.

How is it done?

It is an ultrasound of the abdomen: a probe is moved over the skin while the aorta shows on screen. It is painless and takes about 10–15 minutes. Results are usually given at the end and sent to your GP surgery. If no aneurysm is found, no repeat is needed — one check is usually enough.

What if something is found?

If the aorta is enlarged, it is monitored by size. Small (3 to 4.4cm): a scan every year. Medium (4.5 to 5.4cm): every 3 months. Large (5.5cm or more): referral to a vascular surgeon to consider surgery before any risk of rupture. Finding a swelling does not mean an immediate operation — most often it means keeping an eye on it.

How to prepare

No special preparation is needed: you can eat and drink as usual before the scan, with no special diet. Wear comfortable clothes that are easy to lift so the clinician can place the probe on your tummy. Sometimes a clear picture is not possible first time — for example because of bowel gas — and you are asked back for another scan; this is not a cause for worry. The whole visit takes little time, and you return to your day straight afterwards.

Should you go?

The check is short, free and painless, and it finds a condition that otherwise stays silent until the most dangerous moment. If an invitation arrives, it is worth keeping.