Having an abortion is a significant decision with the potential for physical and emotional consequences. Before any major medical procedure, meeting with your healthcare provider to ensure you’re physically and mentally prepared is critical.
Getting an abortion is no different. Experts recommend getting specific tests and reviewing your medical history beforehand. Here are three things you need to do before scheduling an abortion.
1. Confirm That You Are Pregnant
Even though your period is late and your pregnancy test was positive, there is a possibility you are no longer pregnant. It’s rare, but experts estimate as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in an early miscarriage.
Because it takes your body time to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels, it’s possible to get a positive pregnancy test result and no longer be pregnant. How do you find out if you’ve miscarried? With a pregnancy test and ultrasound.
Coweta Pregnancy Services offers free and confidential pregnancy testing. We’ll provide a free limited obstetrical ultrasound if your test is positive.
2. Confirm Your Pregnancy’s Location Is Correct
Although rare, some pregnancies form outside the uterus. These pregnancies are known as ectopic. An ectopic pregnancy may form in a fallopian tube, which leads to the uterus. It cannot survive and grow normally.
Often, women do not have any immediate symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, but if it continues to grow, it might cause life-threatening bleeding if left untreated.
Ultrasound is the best way to determine a pregnancy’s location. If an ectopic pregnancy is detected, you need to see your healthcare provider immediately because an abortion does not end this type of pregnancy.
3. Determine How Many Weeks You’ve Been Pregnant
You may wonder why it matters how far along you are if you’re getting an abortion. The FDA approves the use of the drugs used in the abortion pill method through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The further along you are in your pregnancy, the less effective the drugs are.
It’s difficult to determine how many weeks you have been pregnant. Many women are surprised that the date differs significantly from what they expected.
An ultrasound is the most accurate way to determine the progress of your pregnancy. The technician takes specific measurements to determine the number of weeks and days.
Contact Coweta Pregnancy Services First
In addition to free pregnancy testing and ultrasound, we can discuss your situation. Before you make an abortion appointment or spend any money, visit Coweta Pregnancy Services first.
We want you to have the information you need to make a confident decision. Schedule an appointment for free and confidential pregnancy testing. We’re here for you.
Coweta Pregnancy Services does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.