Do you think getting an ultrasound before an abortion is a waste of time and money? Actually, it’s not. An ultrasound provides critical information that you need to protect your health and safety.
Ultrasound not only helps determine what abortion procedure you qualify for, but also if getting an abortion is even necessary. Learn more about why you need a limited obstetrical ultrasound before an abortion and how to get one for free.
What Is An Ultrasound?
Healthcare professionals use a prenatal ultrasound to check the health and development of a pregnancy. It uses high-frequency sound waves to create a real-time image of the inside of your uterus.
At Coweta Pregnancy Services, a nurse or sonographer (ultrasounds are also called sonograms) conducts our ultrasounds. They place a gel on your abdomen and rub a wand-like device called a transducer through the gel.
The transducer detects the echoes of sound waves transmitted through your body. Those sound waves transform into images that you can see on a computer screen.
What Will I Learn Before an Abortion?
You learn the answers to three essential questions with an ultrasound.
1. Is the Pregnancy Located Correctly?
Although rare, some pregnancies implant outside the uterus. This type of pregnancy is known as ectopic.
Only the uterus can maintain a growing pregnancy. If it implants elsewhere, it can cause serious, life-threatening medical issues.
The abortion drugs do not end an ectopic pregnancy.
2. Is the Pregnancy Viable?
A viable pregnancy is developing and growing. Experts estimate that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and most miscarriages occur in the first 13 weeks.
You can still get a positive pregnancy test result for days or weeks after a miscarriage because it takes time for the pregnancy hormone (hCG) to leave the body. The test reads positive, but you’re no longer pregnant.
3. What is the Gestational Age?
The gestational age refers to how many weeks and days you have been pregnant. The number of weeks can determine the type of abortion procedure you qualify for.
The FDA approves the use of the drugs for the abortion pill method through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The further along you are, the less effective the drugs become.
Early surgical procedures use suction or a vacuum to remove a pregnancy. Later pregnancies require the use of additional surgical instruments.
Do You Want to Protect Your Health and Safety?
Don’t rush into an abortion decision without protecting your health. Take the time you need to be safe. Come to Coweta for free and confidential pregnancy testing.
If your period is two weeks or more late, or you got a positive result from a home pregnancy test, confirm the results at Coweta with free and confidential pregnancy testing.
We can then schedule a free and confidential ultrasound for you. Get the answers you need.
Book your appointment online or call us at (770) 251-7158. We care about you.
Coweta Pregnancy Services does not perform or refer for abortion.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.