Figuring out your next steps after an unexpected pregnancy can be difficult. If you’re considering abortion, this article is for you.
Below, you’ll find the top three reasons why women are strongly encouraged to have an ultrasound before scheduling an abortion.
How Does An Ultrasound Work?
An ultrasound is a diagnostic tool doctors use to reveal important information about a pregnancy. The procedure uses sound waves to produce images of the uterus and reproductive tract.
Ultrasounds reveal the gestational age of a pregnancy, if a pregnancy is viable, and the location of the pregnancy. Understanding these three aspects of pregnancy allows doctors to provide the best care for pregnant women and helps guide their decisions.
Gestational Age
Gestational age simply refers to how far along a pregnancy is. For women who were not expecting to become pregnant, knowing exactly when conception occurred can be tricky.
Pregnancies that are ten or fewer weeks may be eligible for a medical abortion. Women further along in their pregnancies would need a surgical abortion.
Viability
Did you know the Mayo Clinic estimates that 10-20% of all pregnancies will spontaneously end? If you took a home pregnancy test and it was positive, it’s still essential to confirm the pregnancy is viable.
Viability means a pregnancy is alive and growing. Ultrasounds are the only way to confirm viability during those early weeks of pregnancy.
Pregnancy Location
Lastly, ultrasounds show the location of a pregnancy. You may be surprised to know that pregnancies can occur outside of the uterus, known as ectopic pregnancies.
An ectopic pregnancy requires immediate medical attention. If left undetected, an ectopic pregnancy can cause severe and even life-threatening internal bleeding.
Making An Informed Decision
Before you make final decisions about your unplanned pregnancy, have your pregnancy confirmed and get an ultrasound. You deserve complete care, and checking these boxes before an abortion will ensure you receive it.
Our staff at Pregnancy Options is ready to serve you. We offer medical-grade pregnancy tests, limited offsite ultrasounds, and more.
Make an appointment today by calling 507-332-7644. We’ve got the answers to your pregnancy and sexual health questions.