Even if you are planning on having an abortion, only an ultrasound can answer critical questions to protect your health and safety.
An ultrasound confirms whether the pregnancy is located inside the uterus, estimates how far along you are, and checks for viability. This information is important because it can affect the options available to you and help identify potential complications that may require immediate medical attention.
If you think you may be pregnant, schedule an appointment with Affirm Women’s Health to receive compassionate care and accurate information in a confidential setting. If your pregnancy test is positive, we can offer a no-cost ultrasound to provide you with essential health information.
Your Safety
An ultrasound answers those essential questions. It can also detect medical concerns early, before they become dangerous. For example, without an ultrasound, someone could miss a complication like an ectopic pregnancy or take abortion pills at a gestational age where they may not be appropriate.
Getting an ultrasound gives you concrete, clinical information so you can make decisions grounded in facts and centered on your health.
Pregnancy Location and PUL
One key reason early ultrasounds are used in pregnancy is to confirm where the pregnancy is developing, which helps rule out a serious medical emergency called an ectopic pregnancy. In some cases, an ultrasound may not immediately show a visible pregnancy even when a test is positive, simply because it’s still very early. This situation is known as a Pregnancy of Unknown Location (PUL).
A PUL can happen for several reasons. The pregnancy may be extremely early and not yet visible on ultrasound. In other cases, the pregnancy may have already ended in a very early miscarriage, or a pregnancy is developing outside the uterus, known as an ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancies are life-threatening if not treated quickly because of the risk of rupture of a fallopian tube. An ultrasound is used to detect or rule out this condition. Identifying concerns early helps prevent internal bleeding and complications, which could lead to the necessary removal of a fallopian tube.
Pregnancy Progress and Gestational Age
An ultrasound can also help determine whether the pregnancy is progressing and provide an estimate of how far along you are. This information is vital for understanding your options. For instance, if you are over ten weeks into your pregnancy, the abortion pill is both less effective and comes with more risks.
Reach Out
Affirm Women’s Health is here to help you navigate your unplanned pregnancy. We offer free-of-charge ultrasounds, so you can be confident in your decision.
Our team provides a respectful environment where your health and questions are taken seriously. Contact us today to schedule a confidential appointment, learn more about your pregnancy, and protect your health.