If you’re considering abortion, there are a few medical details you’ll want to know before focusing on the procedure itself.
A positive pregnancy test does not tell you how far along you are, whether the pregnancy is developing, or where the pregnancy implanted. An ultrasound can provide those answers.
Choices Family Resource Centers offers medical-grade pregnancy testing administered by a nurse. If your result is positive, you may be eligible for an on-site ultrasound performed by an RDMS. Schedule a pregnancy testing appointment today to get started.
Gestational Age Affects the Procedure Type
You may already have an estimate based on your last period, but that date is not always precise.
An ultrasound can provide a better estimate of gestational age. This matters because medical and surgical abortion are used at different stages of pregnancy.
For example, the FDA has approved mifepristone with misoprostol through 10 weeks of gestation. If you are farther along than you thought, information about medical abortion may not apply to your situation.
The Pregnancy Should Be in the Uterus
An ultrasound also helps confirm the pregnancy’s location.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. It requires medical treatment and can become life-threatening if the tube ruptures.
The abortion pill does not treat an ectopic pregnancy.
Because a pregnancy test can still be positive with an ectopic pregnancy, location cannot be determined from the test result alone.
A Positive Test Doesn’t Confirm Development
Pregnancy tests detect hCG, a hormone present during pregnancy. They do not show whether the pregnancy is continuing to develop.
As many as 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. If a miscarriage has occurred, hCG may remain detectable for a period of time. An ultrasound can provide additional information about whether the pregnancy is progressing or whether medical follow-up may be needed.
How Ultrasound Appointments Work at Choices
The first step at Choices Family Resource Centers is pregnancy testing to provide an initial result.
Following a positive pregnancy test with us, you may qualify for an on-site ultrasound. These scans are offered during morning appointments at the Sebring location.
If abortion is one of the options you’re researching, knowing your gestational age, pregnancy location, and whether the pregnancy is developing gives you information specific to your pregnancy rather than relying on estimates.
Contact us today to schedule your pregnancy testing appointment and ask whether you may qualify for an ultrasound afterward.
Choices Family Resource Centers does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.