Pregnancy is a major physical adjustment period that requires safety screenings and monitoring. One especially critical health screening is an ultrasound scan.
Most pregnant women have two ultrasounds during pregnancy but could receive more if deemed medically necessary.
But what if you’re considering abortion? Here are three reasons why you need one.
1. To Review Your Pregnancy’s Location
While less common, about 1 in 50 pregnancies are ectopic, meaning the embryo has implanted outside the uterus in a location that can’t support it.
Without an ultrasound, an ectopic pregnancy can progress unnoticed. As the pregnancy grows, it can lead to severe to life-threatening complications.
Abortion procedures do not treat ectopic pregnancy. This fact is crucial to note if you’re considering taking medical abortion drugs without an ultrasound. Women can take the drugs and complete the procedure but could still have progressing ectopic pregnancies.
An ultrasound can detect an ectopic pregnancy so you can seek necessary treatment and prevent complications.
2. To Determine Your Pregnancy’s Gestational Age
How long you have been pregnant is also known as your pregnancy’s gestational age.
While abortion is currently banned in Texas, there are gestational limits in other states and also FDA guidelines for medical abortion.
At the time of this blog, the FDA has approved medical abortion through ten weeks (70 days) of pregnancy. After this time, a provider may consider surgical abortion as a safer option for you.
Ultrasound enables physicians to take measurements to date your pregnancy accurately. We understand that some women may not want an ultrasound if they are concerned they are close to a state’s limits. However, it’s critical for your safety to know, especially with medical abortion.
3. To Screen for Miscarriage
A miscarriage is a spontaneous pregnancy loss before the 20th week of gestation. This condition occurs in about 10-20% of known pregnancies, but the number could be even higher since many happen before women realize they are pregnant.
An ultrasound can screen for miscarriage to alert women of this complication. While many miscarriages will resolve on their own, medical intervention could be necessary in certain cases.
If you miscarried, there’s no reason to pursue abortion, as the pregnancy has ended by itself. Miscarriage can be emotionally difficult for women who want to continue their pregnancies, and it’s essential to seek support and counseling when needed.
Receive a Free Ultrasound Scan
If you’re in the middle of an unintended pregnancy, we can help by providing a free ultrasound scan. We will verify your critical health details and provide information on your options.
We’re here to support you during this time. Contact us to schedule a confidential appointment today!