If you are already planning to have an abortion, an ultrasound can feel like one more step you do not need.
In reality, it is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health before making any decision.
An ultrasound is a safe, painless scan that uses sound waves to create a picture of your pregnancy.
It reveals three details that directly affect your safety: how far along you are, whether the pregnancy is viable, and whether the pregnancy is growing in the uterus.
At Oasis Medical Center, confirmation of pregnancy by ultrasound is part of a free pre-abortion consultation, giving you the accurate medical information you need.
Keep reading to learn why this scan matters.
What Does an Ultrasound Reveal?
Gestational Age
An ultrasound measures how far along you are, and that number shapes your options.
The FDA authorizes the abortion pill only through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. After that point, a surgical abortion may be required, which is a more invasive procedure.
Dating your pregnancy by your last menstrual period alone is often inaccurate, so an ultrasound gives you a reliable answer.
Viability
A viable pregnancy is one with a detectable heartbeat.
According to the Mayo Clinic, 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, most often in the first trimester.
If a scan shows you have already miscarried, there is no reason to move forward with an abortion. Instead, a medical professional can guide you on any monitoring or care you may need.
Location
A healthy pregnancy implants and grows inside the uterus.
When a fertilized egg attaches somewhere else, such as a fallopian tube, ovary, or cervix, it is called an ectopic pregnancy. This condition is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate medical attention and cannot be treated with an abortion.
Because an ectopic pregnancy can go undetected without a scan, an ultrasound is the only way to confirm your pregnancy is where it should be.
Your Best First Step
Getting an ultrasound is the clearest way to gather the facts before you decide anything.
Oasis Medical Center has been a trusted resource for women facing an unplanned pregnancy since 1994. We are your best first step.
During a free, confidential visit, you can receive medical-grade pregnancy testing, confirmation of pregnancy by an ultrasound, and a consultation with a licensed medical professional.
You can talk openly about abortion, the abortion pill, and your options, with no pressure and no cost.
Contact us today to make an appointment and get the information you need to protect your health.
