You can read a great deal about abortion online before learning anything specific about your own pregnancy.
You may know how the abortion pill works, what a surgical abortion involves, or how much a procedure costs. However, it’s crucial to confirm your pregnancy and gather as much information as possible before making a decision.
Crossroads Women’s Center offers medical-grade urine pregnancy tests to confirm your at-home result or provide a starting point. Following a positive result, our medical professionals can perform an ultrasound. Schedule a no-cost appointment today if you’re considering abortion and want information that applies to your pregnancy.
Your Estimate Could Be Off
Pregnancy is usually dated from the first day of your last menstrual period.
That gives you a starting point, but it isn’t always exact. Your cycle may be irregular, you may not remember the date, or ovulation may have occurred earlier or later than expected.
An ultrasound uses measurements from the pregnancy to provide a better estimate of gestational age.
That matters when researching abortion because procedures differ according to how far the pregnancy has progressed. Mifepristone, used with misoprostol for a medical abortion, is FDA-approved through 70 days of gestation, or 10 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period.
Make Sure the Pregnancy Is in the Uterus
A positive urine test cannot tell you where the pregnancy implanted.
An ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. Although an ectopic pregnancy can still result in a positive pregnancy test, abortion drugs cannot end a pregnancy located outside the uterus.
An ectopic pregnancy requires medical treatment and can become dangerous if it ruptures. Severe abdominal or pelvic pain, shoulder pain, fainting, dizziness, or significant bleeding require immediate medical attention.
An ultrasound determines whether the pregnancy is located inside the uterus, allowing you to get immediate care if this condition is detected.
Some Pregnancies End in Miscarriage
A positive test detects hCG, and that hormone may remain in the body for a period of time even after an early pregnancy loss.
An ultrasound can provide additional information about whether the pregnancy is developing and has a heartbeat. If the scan is performed very early and the findings aren’t clear yet, further medical evaluation may be recommended.
As many as 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, which may require medical follow-up or monitoring to prevent complications. Receiving care for a pregnancy that has already ended is not the same as having an elective abortion, which ends an ongoing pregnancy.
Bring Your Questions With You
You don’t need to limit your appointment to ultrasound questions.
Crossroads Women’s Center offers options consultations where you can ask questions about abortion, parenting, and adoption, and receive evidence-based medical information relevant to your needs.
Contact us today to schedule your no-cost, confidential appointment. We can confirm your pregnancy, discuss your options, and help you make an informed choice.
Crossroads Women’s Center does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.