The pregnancy test was positive, and your period is late. Isn’t it obvious you are pregnant? Well, yes, or maybe no. A positive pregnancy test only indicates the possibility of pregnancy.
Over one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage in the first trimester. You need an ultrasound to determine if your pregnancy is developing or if you’ve miscarried.
What Can An Ultrasound Tell Me?
Having an ultrasound before an abortion gives you vital information to determine the type of procedure you qualify for. Ultrasound answers the following three questions:
- Is my pregnancy progressing normally, or have I miscarried?
- How far along am I in my pregnancy?
- Where is the pregnancy located?
Why Does an Ultrasound Matter if I’m Getting an Abortion?
- Because it takes your body time to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels after a miscarriage, you can get a false positive result on a pregnancy test.
An ultrasound confirms your pregnancy is growing by detecting a heartbeat. There’s no reason to pursue an abortion if you’ve already miscarried.
Knowing how far along you are in your pregnancy determines the abortion procedure you qualify for. The FDA approves the use of the drugs in the abortion pill method through 10 weeks of pregnancy only (70 days from the first day of your last period). The farther along you are in your pregnancy, the less effective the drugs are.
You need an ultrasound to determine the gestational age (the number of weeks you’ve been pregnant). Many women are surprised to find they miscalculated the date.
- It’s essential to know your pregnancy’s location. Although rare, some women have ectopic pregnancies. Ectopic means the pregnancy is growing somewhere other than in the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy can be a life-threatening health issue that is not resolved by abortion.
Where Can I Get an Ultrasound?
Come to the Pregnancy Resource Center for free pregnancy testing. We can schedule you for a free limited ultrasound if your test is positive.
The abortion pill method can cost upwards of $600 in Colorado. Although we do not provide or refer for abortion, we can provide factual information about procedures, side effects, and potential risks.
When we discuss your options, we’ll also provide information on the mental health risks of abortion, which include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Substance use disorder
- Eating disorders
- Suicidal behavior
These risks won’t happen to every woman, but you deserve to consider all the possibilities of abortion as a pregnancy option.
We would also be happy to discuss your situation and share information about your other options. Regardless of your decision, we care about you. Schedule your appointment today.