If you’re considering abortion, you may have a lot of questions about possible next steps. Perhaps you’ve already taken a home pregnancy test and are wondering what other actions to take before deciding.
Before making any pregnancy decision, one step is essential: getting an ultrasound.
An ultrasound protects your health by providing important medical information that a pregnancy test cannot. Whether you’re considering abortion, adoption, or parenting, you deserve to have all the facts about your pregnancy before moving forward. In fact, your health depends on it.
Read on to learn why you need an ultrasound, especially if you’re considering abortion. You can also schedule a free appointment to learn how we can help you confirm your pregnancy.
1. An Ultrasound Rules Out Certain Conditions
A positive pregnancy test tells you that pregnancy hormones are present, but it doesn’t tell you whether your pregnancy is developing as expected.
An ultrasound can identify conditions that require medical attention, including an ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. An ectopic pregnancy cannot continue and requires immediate medical treatment. It cannot be treated with abortion drugs, and if left untreated, it can become life-threatening.
An ultrasound can also identify if you’ve already experienced a miscarriage. In some cases, pregnancy hormones remain in your body for days or even weeks after a miscarriage, meaning you could still receive a positive pregnancy test. An ultrasound helps determine whether the pregnancy is continuing to develop or whether your body has already begun the miscarriage process.
Knowing this information first helps ensure you receive the appropriate medical care and avoid unnecessary or harmful treatment.
2. An Ultrasound Tells You How Far Along You Are
Another important reason to have an ultrasound is to determine how far along your pregnancy is.
While you may have an idea based on the first day of your last menstrual period, ovulation and implantation don’t always happen exactly when expected. An ultrasound provides a more accurate estimate of your pregnancy’s gestational age.
This information is especially important if you’re considering abortion because the options available to you depend, in part, on how far along your pregnancy is. For example, abortion drugs are FDA-approved for use only through 10 weeks of gestation. And if you take these drugs when you’re further along, you’re more likely to experience complications.
3. Ultrasound Helps You Make an Informed Decision
An unexpected pregnancy can bring fear, uncertainty, and pressure from many different directions. You may feel like you can’t focus on what you want, especially if people around you have strong opinions.
But before making a permanent decision, you deserve the opportunity to understand your pregnancy and all of your options fully.
An ultrasound is an important part of that process because it gives you information that can protect your health and help you make an informed choice. It also allows you to ask questions, learn more about your pregnancy, and take a moment to consider your next steps.
No matter what decision you’re considering, making it with complete medical information is always in your best interest.
Start with Crossroads Care Clinic
If you’ve recently received a positive pregnancy test and are considering abortion, Crossroads Care Clinic is here to help you take the next step.
We offer free, confidential pre-abortion screenings, which are critical for protecting your health and ensuring your questions are answered. During this appointment, you’ll receive a limited ultrasound, and information about how different abortion procedures work, all in a safe, caring environment.
Contact Crossroads Care Clinic today to schedule your confidential appointment. Things might feel scary right now, but you’re not alone in this. We’re here for you.
Crossroads Care Clinic does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
