Can the fetal heartbeat be seen at six weeks of pregnancy?

At six weeks of pregnancy, for some women with regular menstrual cycles, the embryo may develop normally and a fetal heartbeat may be visible. However, due to individual differences, some women may not yet show a fetal heartbeat.

If a pregnant woman has a relatively regular menstrual cycle and ovulates early, the embryo may develop faster. In such cases, at six weeks of pregnancy, it may be possible to observe the primitive cardiac tube pulsation—known as the fetal heartbeat—via abdominal ultrasound or transvaginal ultrasound. This indicates that the embryo is developing well and growing normally.

At six weeks of pregnancy, due to the embryo's small size, or because of factors such as the position of the uterus, amount of amniotic fluid, or the speed of embryonic development, some pregnant women may temporarily be unable to detect a fetal heartbeat. However, this does not necessarily indicate a problem, as the fetal heartbeat typically begins to appear between six and seven weeks of pregnancy, and sometimes it may not be clearly visible until week seven or later.

Pregnant women should closely monitor their own and the fetus's condition, and attend regular prenatal check-ups and fetal heart monitoring to ensure the health and safety of the fetus.