3 Things Needed Before Abortion

When you’re unexpectedly pregnant, your first instinct may be to make a decision as soon as possible. It’s important to take a moment and safeguard your well-being.

There are 3 things you should do before considering abortion.

1. Confirm Your Pregnancy

You may have taken an at-home test, and while they are very reliable, they aren’t immune to false results. Get a lab-quality pregnancy test at Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center, where we can minimize human error and ensure your results.

A pregnancy test alone is not enough to confirm whether you are pregnant. You will want to get an ultrasound scan to get key details about your pregnancy.

You’ll need to know the gestational age (or age of your pregnancy) when considering abortion. Medical abortion is only FDA-approved if your pregnancy is under 10 weeks.

An ultrasound will confirm your pregnancy’s viability (whether it is progressing normally). About 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, sometimes with no initial symptoms.

Finally, an ultrasound will determine the location of your pregnancy, as sometimes an egg can implant outside the uterus. This is called an ectopic pregnancy and can be life-threatening without immediate attention.

An abortion will not treat a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, so getting an ultrasound is crucial.

2. Checking Your Medical Status

Checking your medical history is a crucial step in the process. An abortion isn’t possible in a variety of situations:

If you’re too far along in your pregnancy—you shouldn’t attempt a medical abortion if your pregnancy is further along than ten weeks gestation.
If you have an intrauterine device (IUD) currently in place
If you have a suspected ectopic pregnancy
If you have certain medical conditions, including bleeding disorders, certain heart or blood vessel diseases, severe liver, kidney, or lung disease, or an uncontrolled seizure disorder
If you’re taking certain medications, like a blood thinner or steroid medicines
If you can’t make follow-up visits to your provider or don’t have access to emergency care

3.Get Informed

Contrary to popular misconceptions, abortion is a serious medical procedure. You should know the side effects and risks involved before going into one.

You also must be aware of the mental health effects this procedure could cause. Studies have shown women have an increased risk of mental health problems after having an abortion.

Getting informed is one of the best ways to protect your health.

Where Can I Go To Follow These Steps?

At Crossroads, you can get no-cost pregnancy testing and a transvaginal ultrasound, as well as resources and information about abortion. You will meet with a healthcare professional to discuss your situation in a safe and confidential environment.

Schedule a no-cost appointment with our compassionate team today before you decide on abortion.

Sources:

HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. (n.d.). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/020687Orig1s025Lbl.pdf

Dugas, C., & Slane, V. H. (2019, May 11). Miscarriage. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532992/

‌Cleveland Clinic. (2020, February 6). Ectopic Pregnancy: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments & Tests. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9687-ectopic-pregnancy/

Medical abortion – Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). www.mayoclinic.org. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687#:~:text=Medical%20abortion%20isn%27t/

Kerns, L. (2023, February 24). What Are the Risks of Abortion? | PHC Jefferson City | Jefferson City, Missouri. PHC Jefferson City. https://phcjeffersoncity.com/what-are-the-risks-of-abortion/

Coleman, P. K. (2011). Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009. British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(3), 180–186. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.110.077230