Three Reasons For An Ultrasound Before Having An Abortion.

So, the pregnancy test was positive and the thought of being pregnant just doesn’t work with your life plan right now. If you are considering taking abortion pills before confirming the viability of your pregnancy with an ultrasound, there are a few things you might want to consider before you order abortion pills or take the abortion pill. 

To begin with, understand that a urine pregnancy test is simply taking a reading of the level of HCG in your body. Blood levels of HCG can be detected by about 11 days after conception and they typically double every 72 hours, peaking at 8-11 weeks of pregnancy. 

Ultrasound provides necessary information about your pregnancy.

1. Viability: Determining if your pregnancy is viable is crucial information if you are considering an abortion. If your pregnancy is not viable, a medical abortion will be unnecessary. If your pregnancy test was positive, you are most likely pregnant because false positives are rare.  However, possible reasons for false positives include certain health conditions, medications, and early spontaneous miscarriage. Studies indicate that as many up to 25% of pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage. 

In the case of a miscarriage, blood levels of HGC could be high enough to indicate pregnancy, however, the pregnancy may not be viable. Different ultrasound scans are utilized at different periods during pregnancy and viability scans are typically carried out at 7-10 weeks of pregnancy. The viability scan is also referred to as a dating scan. Basically, a viability scan is looking for a fetal heartbeat. Without fetal viability, an abortion is not necessary.

If you are considering taking the abortion pill, a viability or dating scan are generally done much earlier than 7 weeks. The information gained from a dating ultrasound is valuable as you consider abortion pills, at home abortions, and how late you can take the abortion pills. 

2. Gestational Age: When considering what’s the latest you can get an abortion, knowing the gestational age of your pregnancy, determined by an ultrasound, is the only way to tell how far along you are. Some studies indicate that up to 40% of women report inaccurate pregnancy dating based on LMP. With a free ultrasound, you can know exactly how far along you are and what your next options are. With a medical abortion, the FDA has only approved the abortion pill for up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. If you’re over 10 weeks pregnant, a surgical abortion may be needed.

The average cost of abortion can vary based on gestational age and the type of abortion procedure you choose.

3. Ultrasounds diagnose ectopic pregnancies: An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus. This is most often in the fallopian tubes and can also be referred to as a tubal pregnancy. Other potential locations where the fertilized egg rests include the inside of an ovary, the abdominal cavity or on the cervix. Ectopic pregnancies cannot continue because as the baby continues to grow, there is not space available for the fetus to grow. An undetected ectopic pregnancy could destroy an ovary or fallopian tube and cause life-threatening blood loss for the mother. If you have an ectopic pregnancy, you need to contact your health care provider as soon as possible to receive appropriate medical care. 

Schedule A Free Ultrasound

We are here to provide you with the information you need to understand more about your pregnancy. Getting the necessary medically accurate information about your pregnancy will provide you with the confidence to make your best decision. Our team of licensed medical professionals are here to help verify your pregnancy and inform you about all your pregnancy options. 

Schedule a free ultrasound near me today.