AAA Screening

AAA stands for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. This is when the main blood vessel in your body – called the aorta – gets weak and starts to swell in your tummy.

This can happen as some people get older. A small swelling usually isn’t dangerous, but it’s important to check it in case it gets bigger.

AAA screening is a quick and easy way to check the size of your aorta. If it’s starting to grow, doctors can keep an eye on it or treat it early, before it causes serious problems.

Big aneurysms are rare, but if they aren’t found in time, they can be life-threatening. That’s why this test is important.

You can find out more about AAA screening on the AAA screening invitation page on the GOV website.

The NHS invites all men for screening in the year they turn 65.

This is because the chance of getting an aneurysm goes up as you get older – and it’s most common in men aged 65 and over.

Your risk can also be higher if:

• you smoke now or have smoked in the past

• you have high blood pressure

• a close family member (like your brother, sister or parent) has had an aneurysm

If you’re a man aged over 65 and haven’t had this test before, you can book it yourself.

Call 0191 445 8747 to make an appointment.

AAA screening is quick, simple and painless. It’s done by a trained health worker at your local clinic and usually takes less than 10 minutes.

When you arrive, they’ll check your details and explain what will happen. You can ask questions at any time if you’re not sure about something.

You’ll lie down on a bed and lift or unbutton your shirt – you don’t need to get fully undressed. The health worker will put some cool gel on your tummy and move a small scanner over your skin. This shows a picture of the aorta, so they can check its size.

You’ll get your results straight away, and a copy will also be sent to your GP.

There are 4 possible results from your AAA scan:

No aneurysm found

This is the most common result. If your aorta is less than 3cm wide, it means everything is normal.

You won’t need any treatment or check-ups, and you won’t be invited for AAA screening again.

Small aneurysm

If your aorta is between 3cm and 4.4cm wide, you have a small aneurysm.

This usually doesn’t cause any problems, but it’s important to keep an eye on it. You’ll be invited for a scan once a year to check if it’s getting bigger.

Medium aneurysm

If your aorta is between 4.5cm and 5.4cm wide, you have a medium aneurysm.

You’ll be invited for a scan every 3 months, so doctors can keep a closer watch on it.

Large aneurysm

If your aorta is 5.5cm wide or bigger, you have a large aneurysm.

This is very rare – it only happens in about 1 in every 1,000 men who are screened.

You’ll be given an appointment with a specialist doctor. They will do more checks and talk to you about treatment. This usually means an operation to stop the aneurysm from getting worse.

You might not know you have an aneurysm

If you have an aneurysm, you probably won’t notice any symptoms. You won’t feel any pain, and there may be no signs at all that something is wrong.

That’s why screening is so important. It can find aneurysms early – before they get bigger or cause problems. This means they can be watched closely or treated early, which makes serious problems much less likely.

The easiest way to find out if you have an aneurysm is to have an ultrasound scan of your tummy. It’s quick, simple, and doesn’t hurt.

Like all medical tests, there are some small risks. You can find more detailed information about AAA screening on the AAA screening invitation page on the GOV website.