Finding out you’re pregnant can be a confusing and scary time if it is something you hadn’t planned on. Knowing the facts and options available can empower you to make the best decision for your health and financial situation.
Here’s what you need to know before you consider an abortion.
Get a Positive Pregnancy Test
If an at-home test is taken too early it can sometimes give a false negative result. An at-home pregnancy test measures the amount of HCG hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin) within your body which begins to increase after a fertilized egg has implanted in your uterus.
The Mayo Clinic advises to wait until the day after your missed period to take a pregnancy test for the most accurate results.
Receive an Ultrasound
This may seem like an unnecessary hassle, however, an ultrasound provides vital information that could ultimately save your life.
Ultrasounds primarily reveal three things: how far along your pregnancy is, the location of the pregnancy, and its viability.
How Far Along
You may use an app to track your menstrual cycle, but figuring out just how far along your pregnancy is can be tricky. An ultrasound provides a digital image of your uterus to show exactly how big your fetus is.
The abortion pill is only effective within the first 10 weeks of pregancy, so you’ll need to know exactly how far along you are. Taking the abortion pill past 10 weeks of pregnancy can pose risks to your health.
Location
Sometimes a fertilized egg begins to grow outside of the uterus. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies can be life-threatening and medical attention is needed immediately.
Viability
Viability refers to your fetus being alive and growing. The Mayo Clinic estimates that 10-20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, so you will want to confirm whether or not you’ve naturally miscarried or not.
Test for STDs
Yes. Even if you have no symptoms, you should test for STDs. According to the CDC, common STDs such as chlamydia are typically asymptomatic and only detected via testing.
If left untreated, a curable STD like chlamydia can cause further harm to a woman’s reproductive organs during and after an abortion procedure.
Simple, Safe Support is Available
You may feel overwhelmed, but we are here to support you through this journey and you are not alone. We offer free and confidential pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and STD testing because you deserve care and support. Make a plan to reach out to us today!