An ultrasound before an abortion will verify three key health details: your pregnancy’s gestational age, location, and viability.
These three details will inform you of your options and if you need medical treatment for a medical condition like ectopic pregnancy. Keep reading for more information.
1. To Know Your Pregnancy’s Gestation
Your pregnancy’s gestational age refers to how long you have been pregnant. This calculation can be confusing because it’s counted from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP).
Period trackers and other estimates can’t be relied upon to give you an accurate age. Instead, medical professionals use an ultrasound scan to take measurements.
Knowing your pregnancy’s gestational age will inform you of your options, either due to state abortion restrictions or FDA guidelines. For instance, the abortion pill is only FDA-approved through the first ten weeks of pregnancy. After that, an abortion provider might consider another procedure safer for you.
2. To Identify Your Pregnancy’s Location
In an intrauterine pregnancy, an embryo implants inside the uterus. The uterus is a unique organ that can stretch and grow with the developing pregnancy. Incredibly, it can expand from the size of a lemon to a watermelon during pregnancy.
When an embryo implants outside the uterus, this is called an ectopic pregnancy. It most commonly occurs in a fallopian tube. As the pregnancy grows, it becomes a danger to the woman’s health because it can lead to life-threatening bleeding. It’s extremely serious, but an ultrasound can detect it early, so treatment can happen quickly and prevent complications.
While an ectopic pregnancy only occurs in about 2% of all pregnancies, it’s still a condition an ultrasound should screen for, just in case. The abortion pill will not be able to treat an ectopic pregnancy.
3. To Screen for Viability
Not to be confused with the point when a fetus can live outside a woman’s body, “viability” in early pregnancy refers to whether or not the pregnancy is growing and progressing.
Miscarriage, the spontaneous loss of pregnancy in the first 20 weeks, occurs in about 10-20% of pregnancies. The number could even be higher because many women miscarry before they realize they’re pregnant.
Even though miscarriages can resolve naturally, it’s essential to be monitored by a medical professional for any signs of infection or complications. Sometimes, treatment is necessary.
Receive a Free Ultrasound at Relate Care Clinic.
A positive pregnancy test doesn’t tell the whole story. To get a clear picture of your health and protect your safety, receive a free ultrasound at Relate Care Clinic. We’re here to support and assist you during your pregnancy.
Schedule an appointment today!
