The short answer: an ultrasound tells you facts about your pregnancy that no home pregnancy test can, and those details have a direct impact on your health and your options.
If you’re considering abortion and haven’t had one yet, schedule a free, confidential appointment at Cypress Valley Clinic in Kerrville before moving forward. We can help you confirm your pregnancy and provide information on every option.
What a Pregnancy Test Leaves Out
A positive pregnancy test confirms that the hormone hCG is present in your body. That’s all it confirms. It cannot tell you how far along the pregnancy is, where it’s located, or whether it’s still developing. Each of those gaps matters clinically, and an ultrasound fills all three.
Gestational Age
How far along you are determines which abortion procedures are medically appropriate for your situation. The abortion pill, a two-drug regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol, is only FDA-approved through 10 weeks of pregnancy. Dates calculated from a last menstrual period are estimates and can be off, particularly with irregular cycles.
An ultrasound measures the pregnancy accurately to tell you your gestational age and estimated due date if you were to carry to term.
Pregnancy Location
A pregnancy that implants outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube, is called an ectopic pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy cannot be treated with an abortion procedure. It requires different, immediate medical attention, and it can become life-threatening if it goes undetected. Because early symptoms can be easy to miss or attributed to a normal pregnancy, an ultrasound is the only reliable way to confirm the location before any procedure takes place.
Pregnancy Viability
Between 10 and 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, according to the Mayo Clinic, and most losses occur in the first trimester.
Because hCG can remain elevated in the body for days or weeks after a loss, a positive pregnancy test does not rule out a miscarriage that has already occurred. If the pregnancy is no longer developing, abortion is not the correct medical procedure. An ultrasound confirms viability.
Your Next Step
Contact Cypress Valley Clinic today for more information regarding our free, limited ultrasounds, pregnancy testing, and confidential consultations at no cost. Call (830) 955-8252 or request your free appointment online today.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
