Did you know that getting an ultrasound before an abortion is an essential way to protect your health? An ultrasound is a scan that provides key information about your pregnancy. These details can influence your next steps and ensure your well-being.
Keep reading to learn the top three reasons why getting an ultrasound is so important before an abortion. And if you’re looking for an ultrasound near you and a safe, confidential place to talk, Warrenton Pregnancy Center is here. All appointments are completely free and confidential.
You Need to Know Your Pregnancy’s Gestational Age
Did you know that a medical abortion (often referred to as the “abortion pill”) is only FDA-approved for pregnancies that are ten weeks gestation or fewer? If your pregnancy is further along, taking abortion pills can lead to serious health risks and complications, including incomplete abortion, excessive bleeding, or the need for emergency medical care.
Gestational age can’t be accurately determined by dates alone or by guessing—it must be confirmed through an ultrasound. An ultrasound is the only way to reliably determine the exact gestational age of your pregnancy, helping you understand what abortion options are available and what risks may be involved.
You Need to Know Your Pregnancy’s Location
In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants and grows inside the uterus. However, sometimes, a pregnancy implants elsewhere, most commonly in a fallopian tube. This is called an ectopic pregnancy, and it’s a life-threatening medical emergency. Abortion procedures do not treat ectopic pregnancies.
The only way to detect an ectopic pregnancy is with an ultrasound. If you’re experiencing one, it won’t be resolved through abortion—you’ll need immediate emergency care. Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy aren’t always obvious early on, which is why confirming the location of your pregnancy through ultrasound is so critical.
You Need to Know if Your Pregnancy Is Viable
It’s estimated that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, and not all miscarriages come with clear signs. In fact, many women may not know they’ve experienced one until an ultrasound reveals it. If you’ve had a miscarriage, you may need follow-up care to protect your health.
An ultrasound can determine whether your pregnancy is progressing normally or if it has ended in miscarriage. This matters because miscarriage symptoms can be silent or mistaken for something else.
Knowing whether your pregnancy is viable, meaning it is developing and there is a heartbeat, is essential before moving forward with any abortion decision.
Next Steps
Facing an unplanned pregnancy can feel overwhelming, but taking the time to get the full picture is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Before you consider an abortion, schedule a free ultrasound to confirm the details of your pregnancy.
At Warrenton Pregnancy Center, we offer free, limited ultrasounds in a supportive and confidential environment.
Contact us today to schedule your free appointment. You don’t have to face this alone. We’re here for you.
Warrenton Pregnancy Center does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
