You may be thinking an ultrasound isn’t necessary if you’ve already decided abortion is the best option for you. But, an ultrasound is important before scheduling an abortion because it reveals viability, can be life-saving and reveals gestational age.
How Is An Ultrasound Unique?
While an at-home test can detect pregnancy, it cannot confirm the viability of your pregnancy. Viability simply means that your fetus is growing. According to the Mayo Clinic, 10-20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Knowing whether or not your pregnancy is viable can prevent you from undergoing unnecessary abortion procedures.
Can Ultrasounds Be Life-Saving?
In short – yes. Sometimes a fertilized egg can develop outside of the uterus. One of the key aspects of an ultrasound is to determine a pregnancy’s location. Any pregnancy that develops in the abdominal cavity, fallopian tubes, or cervix is known as an ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancies are not viable and can cause life-threatening blood loss to a woman if not properly terminated. Abortion pills are not effective in terminating ectopic pregnancies, which is why women are encouraged to have an ultrasound before proceeding with an abortion.
Why Is Gestational Age Important To Know?
Gestational age simply refers to how many weeks along you are in pregnancy. While you may use an app to track your menstrual cycle, figuring out exactly how many weeks pregnant you are can be tricky. An ultrasound uses sound wave technology to examine the size of a fetus which then provides the information needed to determine which type of abortion procedure is right for you.
Abortion Pill
Most abortion pills are designed to terminate pregnancies that are less than 10 weeks gestation. If an ultrasound reveals you are more than 10 weeks pregnant, your abortion options become limited to surgical abortion like a D&C abortion.
Surgical Removal
For pregnancies more than 10 weeks along, a D&C procedure is needed to remove the tissue from inside your uterus. Abortion pills are not effective and can be harmful if taken after 10 weeks of gestation.
Next Steps
We are here to help you navigate this unexpected life turn. Let us empower you with the knowledge and resources needed to make an informed decision about your pregnancy.
We are glad to make limited ultrasound referrals to serve you. Contact us today.