Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is a way of checking if there’s a bulge or swelling in the aorta, the main blood vessel that runs from your heart down through your tummy.
In England, screening for AAA is offered to men during the year they turn 65.
Men aged 65 or over are most at risk of AAAs. Screening can help spot a swelling in the aorta early on when it can be treated.
Screening for AAA isn’t routinely offered to:
- women
- men under 65
- people who’ve already been treated for an AAA
This is because the risk of an AAA is much smaller in these groups.
You can ask for a scan to check for an AAA if you think you might need one but haven’t been offered a screening test.
