There it is, a positive result on an at-home pregnancy test. You’re thinking, “Oh great. This is the last thing I need.” We understand. An unplanned pregnancy is shocking, even scary. Here are 3 reasons you need an ultrasound before abortion.
You’ve decided the only way to handle this is to get an abortion. But is a positive test all you need to make the decision? There’s a lot more to know, even before an abortion. You need an ultrasound.
What Is An Ultrasound?
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to capture an image from inside your body. The most common kind is a limited obstetric ultrasound. During the ultrasound, a gel-like substance is placed on your abdomen, and an instrument called a transducer is rubbed over the gel. There isn’t any pain.
The transducer picks up echoes of the sound waves inside your uterus. They bounce back and electronically become black and white dots on a computer screen. Those dots reveal an image from inside your uterus which you can view on the monitor.
Why Get An Ultrasound Before Abortion?
There are three main reasons why ultrasound can save you time and money.
1. You Might Have Miscarried
Today, experts are finding that miscarriages happen more frequently than originally expected. A few recent studies published by WebMD suggest as many as 50% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage.
There’s still uncertainty about the number because many women miscarry before they even realize they’re pregnant. Symptoms include bleeding, cramping, belly pain, weakness, and others that are often associated with an actual period.
The March of Dimes says it may take a few weeks or a month or more for your body to recover from a miscarriage. That’s why it’s possible to get a positive test result and no longer be actually pregnant.
An ultrasound will tell you for sure if you’ve miscarried or not.
2. You Need To Know The Date You Got Pregnant
Abortion procedures are determined by how far along your pregnancy is. If you’ve been pregnant 70 days or less from the first day of your last period, the FDA recommends the abortion pill method (also known as medical abortion). After 70 days, you need to have a surgical abortion.
Are you confident you know how long you’ve been pregnant? The National Institutes of Health states after the 70-day cut-off, a woman has a greater chance of having a failed medical abortion.
Ultrasound gives you an accurate date of when your pregnancy began and how far along you are.
3. Find Out Where Your Pregnancy Is Located
When an embryo attaches somewhere other than your uterus it’s known as an ectopic pregnancy. Although rare, untreated ectopic pregnancies are dangerous and can be life-threatening.
If an ultrasound shows your pregnancy isn’t located where it should be, abortion won’t change or end an ectopic pregnancy. You’ll need to see another health care provider.
Free-of-Charge Pregnancy Test and Ultrasound Referral
Before you schedule your abortion, get a lab-quality pregnancy test to confirm your test results and an ultrasound referral at no cost to you. On average, the cost of ultrasound in New York is around $250. Save your money and visit The Pregnancy Resource Center of the Valleys.
You and your health are important to us. Abortion is a serious medical decision, and we want you to have as much information as possible beforehand. Schedule an appointment today at no cost to you. We’ll give you the answers you need.