If you are considering abortion after receiving a positive pregnancy test, you may be wondering why you would need an ultrasound. An ultrasound before an abortion is crucial because it provides medical information that can protect your health.
Crossroads PRC offers no-cost pregnancy testing and an ultrasound, if you meet certain medical criteria, to help you fully understand your situation before making a pregnancy decision.
Schedule a confidential appointment today.
A Pregnancy Test Alone Isn’t Enough
Pregnancy tests work by detecting the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in your urine. While home pregnancy tests are generally accurate, they cannot tell you how your pregnancy is developing.
For example, 10 to 20% of pregnancies end naturally in miscarriage. It is possible to receive a positive pregnancy test after a miscarriage because hCG levels take time to fall. If you have already miscarried, additional follow-up medical care may be needed instead.
What an Ultrasound Can Tell You
A limited ultrasound can provide three important pieces of information that may affect both your health and your pregnancy options.
- The location of the pregnancy: Pregnancies can implant outside of the uterus. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy, which is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment and cannot be treated with the abortion pill.
- How far along you are (gestational age): This is important because the abortion pill is only FDA-approved through ten weeks of gestation. Estimating your pregnancy based on your last menstrual period is not always accurate, particularly if your cycles are irregular.
- Whether the pregnancy appears to be viable: An ultrasound can detect whether fetal heart motion is present and whether the pregnancy is progressing.
Having this information allows you to make an informed decision while protecting your health.
Get a No-Cost Ultrasound at Crossroads PRC
Crossroads PRC is here to help you through this unexpected pregnancy. We may be able to offer you a no-cost ultrasound to provide the details you need to move forward with confidence.
We will also talk to you about your pregnancy options: parenting, adoption, and abortion, so that you can understand the facts, risks, and considerations of each. Contact us to make an appointment.
*Crossroads does not perform or refer for abortions.
**Ultrasound eligibility is determined based on medical criteria.