If abortion is one of the options you’re researching, you may have already looked into the abortion pill or procedures offered at clinics. There’s another piece of information to find first: the details of your pregnancy.
An ultrasound can help establish some of those details and answer specific questions you may have about your pregnancy.
Birthright of San Lorenzo offers no-cost, confidential pregnancy testing to get an initial result, and our staff can refer you to trusted local providers for an ultrasound if you’re eligible. Schedule an appointment today to get started, and keep reading to learn why an ultrasound is needed before making a pregnancy decision.
Find Out How Far Along You Are
Abortion procedures differ according to gestational age.
The FDA has approved mifepristone, used with misoprostol for medical abortion, through 10 weeks of gestation. Surgical procedures are used later in pregnancy.
You may have an estimate based on your last menstrual period, but menstrual cycles and ovulation don’t always follow an exact schedule. Ultrasound measurements can provide additional information about gestational age.
That gives you something more reliable to use when researching which information might apply to your pregnancy.
Make Sure the Pregnancy Is in the Uterus
An ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. An ectopic pregnancy can still produce a positive pregnancy test but cannot continue normally.
The abortion pill does not end an ectopic pregnancy.
An untreated ectopic pregnancy can cause a rupture and life-threatening internal bleeding. Severe abdominal or pelvic pain, shoulder pain, fainting, or heavy bleeding require immediate medical attention.
Ultrasound is one of the tools medical professionals use when evaluating the pregnancy’s location.
The Pregnancy May Have Ended Naturally
Miscarriage is another reason an ultrasound may be relevant before an abortion.
As many as 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, and pregnancy hormone levels don’t immediately return to zero after a miscarriage. As a result, a pregnancy test can remain positive for a period of time even though the pregnancy is no longer developing.
An ultrasound can provide information about whether the pregnancy appears to be progressing or whether medical follow-up is necessary.
Begin at Birthright
Birthright of San Lorenzo can provide no-cost, confidential pregnancy testing. If your test is positive, our staff can provide an ultrasound referral to help you get the information you need.
Contact us today to schedule your pregnancy testing appointment before deciding how you want to proceed.
Birthright of San Lorenzo does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
