Are you considering abortion for your unplanned pregnancy? You need to get answers to the following three questions before you schedule an abortion. The answers protect your health and show you your options. An abortion is a big decision, and we want you to be fully prepared.
1. Am I Actually Pregnant?
Believe it or not, a positive pregnancy test and a late period may not be enough to confirm you are pregnant. There could be a change in your menstrual cycle for several reasons. Your period could be late because of stress, a hormone imbalance, rapid weight gain or loss, or increased exercise.
Experts estimate as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage. That’s more than one out of every four pregnancies. The majority of miscarriages occur before 12 weeks.
Because it takes your body time to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels, you could receive a positive pregnancy test days or even weeks after miscarrying.
How do you tell if you are no longer pregnant? With an ultrasound exam. If you’ve miscarried, you need to see your healthcare provider, not an abortion provider.
2. How Far Along Is My Pregnancy?
The number of weeks you’ve been pregnant is significant if you are considering using abortion drugs. The FDA approves the use of abortion pill drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy only (70 days past the first day of your last period). The Mayo Clinic recommends not taking them after nine weeks.
Research has proven that period tracker apps fail at predicting when you’re most likely to get pregnant. Many women are surprised that their pregnancies are farther along than they realized.
Do you know exactly when you got pregnant? Many women aren’t sure. Ultrasound is the most reliable way to learn how far along you are.
The ultrasound technician determines how many weeks and days you’ve been pregnant through various measurements.
3. Is the Pregnancy in the Correct Location?
It may seem like a weird question. Don’t all pregnancies wind up in the same place? Actually, they don’t. Some pregnancies begin growing outside the uterus. Those pregnancies are called “ectopic.”
An ectopic pregnancy means the fertilized egg implants somewhere else in the body. It could be in a fallopian tube (which leads to the uterus), ovaries, or abdomen. It is very dangerous.
An ectopic pregnancy cannot continue to grow without causing severe problems, and an abortion does not solve the issue. Once again, you would need to see a healthcare provider or perhaps even receive emergency care rather than an abortion provider.
How do you determine if your pregnancy is ectopic? With an ultrasound. The technician can evaluate where your pregnancy is growing. Although rare, an ectopic pregnancy can be a life-threatening situation. Also, taking the abortion pill if you have an ectopic pregnancy can lead to hazardous health complications.
How Can Calaveras Pregnancy Center Help Me?
We provide a free and confidential pregnancy test. If your test is positive, we offer a free on-site ultrasound referral.
We know how important this step is in identifying health issues. When you call our office, we can arrange a free limited obstetrical ultrasound in our Angels Camp office provided by medical staff from our partnering medical clinic (Turlock Pregnancy and Health Center).
Fill out our confidential online contact form to schedule your free appointment. You and your future matter to us, so see us before scheduling an abortion. We’re here for you.