Seeing a positive pregnancy test may feel like confirmation that you have all the information you need to start considering abortion. However, that test result leaves several important questions unanswered.
At Choices Medical Services, qualified healthcare professionals provide lab-quality pregnancy testing and limited OB ultrasounds to help you better understand your pregnancy.
Schedule a no-cost appointment with Choices Medical Services today to get the information you need before making a decision.
In the meantime, continue reading to learn why receiving an ultrasound is so important to this process.
#1: Your Dates May Not Be as Certain as You Think
Pregnancy is typically dated from the first day of your last menstrual period. However, menstrual cycles don’t always follow a predictable schedule.
Maybe your period comes at a different time each month. Maybe you aren’t completely sure when your last one started. Even with a regular cycle, the timing of ovulation can vary.
An ultrasound can provide a more reliable estimate of how far along the pregnancy is.
Gestational age is especially relevant when you’re researching abortion because different procedures are used at different stages of pregnancy. The abortion pill, for instance, is FDA-approved through 10 weeks of gestation.
#2: A Positive Test Can’t Tell You Whether You’ve Miscarried
As many as 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, sometimes before a woman realizes she’s even pregnant.
After a miscarriage, hCG levels don’t immediately return to their pre-pregnancy level. Since pregnancy tests work by detecting hCG, you may still receive a positive result for some time.
An ultrasound can provide more information about whether the pregnancy is viable (progressing and has a heartbeat). And if you’ve experienced a miscarriage, you may need medical follow-up to prevent complications.
#3: The Location of Your Pregnancy Matters
Another detail a pregnancy test can’t provide is where the pregnancy has implanted.
An ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus, usually within a fallopian tube. If it continues growing, it can cause the tube to rupture and lead to dangerous internal bleeding.
An ectopic pregnancy requires medical treatment and cannot be treated with the abortion pill. An ultrasound can help determine whether your pregnancy is located within the uterus.
Start With What You Know
You may still have plenty of questions about what you want to do, and that’s okay. Getting medical information about your pregnancy gives you something concrete to work with as you consider your options.
Contact Choices Medical Services today to schedule your appointment. Our qualified healthcare professionals can provide lab-quality pregnancy testing and, when appropriate, a limited OB ultrasound to help you learn more about your pregnancy.
*Choices Medical Services does not provide or refer for abortions.
**All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.