An ultrasound may seem like one extra unnecessary step if you’re already planning to have an abortion, but it actually provides vital information for your health and safety.
It is a safe and painless technology that uses soundwaves to create a picture of the pregnancy and provide details about its growth and development.
Before choosing to terminate, it is critical to determine the viability, age, and location of the pregnancy. Knowing this information helps assess what type of abortion you may be eligible for and identify any health risks.
Pregnancy Details Found on Ultrasound
Viability
A pregnancy is viable if it has a detectable heartbeat on an ultrasound. According to the Mayo Clinic, as many as 1 in 5 pregnancies end in natural miscarriage, with most occurring in the first trimester.
If an ultrasound determines you have miscarried, there would be no reason for you to go through with the abortion process.
Seeking an ultrasound and learning of a miscarriage also provides you with the opportunity to receive additional medical intervention or guidance on passing the pregnancy.
How Long You Have Been Pregnant
While most women calculate the age of their pregnancy based on their last menstrual period, this method can be inaccurate, so you should confirm the gestational age with an ultrasound.
After 10 weeks of pregnancy, you are no longer eligible for the abortion pill, and a surgical abortion may be required, which is a more invasive procedure.
Location
A typical pregnancy implants within the lining of the uterus and begins to develop, but when a pregnancy is ectopic and implants outside the uterus, it can be life-threatening. Ectopic pregnancies require immediate medical intervention and do not qualify for an abortion.
Because ectopic pregnancies can go undetected without an ultrasound scan, all pregnant women should receive an ultrasound to confirm the location of their pregnancy.
Get a Free Ultrasound
Learning more about your pregnancy can be a significant first step if you’re overwhelmed with your pregnancy decision.
Alpha Pregnancy Care Center supports you by providing free lab-quality pregnancy testing, an ultrasound scan, and consultation with our medical team.
We want to answer your questions, discuss your options, and empower you to make an informed decision.
Contact us today for your free, confidential appointment.
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