You may wonder why you need an ultrasound if you don’t want to continue your pregnancy.
However, moving forward with an abortion without an ultrasound scan presents some additional risks to your health, such as missing critical health details or taking the abortion pill beyond the FDA-approved timeframe.
Here are three reasons why having an ultrasound is a critical step during pregnancy.
1. To Confirm Your Pregnancy Is in the Right Location
In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus, where the pregnancy can safely grow and develop.
In about 2% of pregnancies, the fertilized egg will attach outside of the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy, and it can become a life-threatening condition as the pregnancy grows in a structure that can’t support it.
Left undetected and untreated, an ectopic pregnancy in a fallopian tube can lead to tubal rupture and life-threatening bleeding. An ultrasound detects ectopic pregnancy early so women can seek medical treatment before anything dangerous occurs.
2. To Verify Your Pregnancy Is Progressing with a Heartbeat
Roughly 10-20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, which is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. If this occurs, an abortion would no longer make sense as the pregnancy has already ended.
Instead, you would need to visit a doctor to assess whether any treatment is required to clear the uterus or prevent infection. An ultrasound can detect a fetal heartbeat to see if your pregnancy is progressing.
3. To Measure Your Pregnancy’s Gestational Age
It’s critical to determine how far along you are (gestational age) so you can understand your available options.
For instance, the FDA has only approved the abortion pill for use within the first ten weeks (70 days) of pregnancy. After that timeframe, another abortion method may be considered safer for you.
Additionally, if you’re also considering parenting or adoption, an ultrasound will also estimate your due date.
Schedule a No-Cost Ultrasound
Schedule a no-cost ultrasound appointment at Pregnancy Help Center. We can verify that your pregnancy is located within the uterus, progressing with a heartbeat, and measure your gestational age.
These critical pregnancy details will help you make an informed choice. After an ultrasound, you will understand your health status and available options. Schedule an appointment today!