Facing an unplanned pregnancy can feel overwhelming and scary. While an abortion may seem like the simplest solution, there are important details and information you need to be aware of in order to protect your health.
The following information provides 3 steps you can use to learn the details you need to know as you weigh your options.
1.Confirm Your Pregnancy
While over-the-counter pregnancy tests are usually accurate, there is a chance that you can get a false positive from an at-home pregnancy test.
Additionally, it is possible to get a positive test result from a pregnancy that is an ectopic pregnancy or not otherwise viable.
Confirming your pregnancy with a lab-quality pregnancy test and ultrasound at a local health clinic is the best way to ensure you are pregnant.
2.Receive an Ultrasound Scan
This scan is important and will give you valuable information. The details you will learn from an ultrasound scan include:
Age: Knowing the age of your pregnancy is essential in knowing what options are available to you. For example, according to the FDA, medical abortion is only recommended in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Attempting a medical abortion after 10 weeks can lead to serious health complications.
Location: An ultrasound scan will detect whether your pregnancy is growing outside of your uterus, a complication known as ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a serious health condition that requires immediate medical intervention to protect your health.
Viability: The Mayo Clinic has reported that 10-20% of pregnancies can end in a natural miscarriage. The ultrasound can detect whether your pregnancy is viable or if a miscarriage is present. If you are diagnosed with a non-viable pregnancy, you may be monitored medically as your body progresses through the natural miscarriage process.
3.Understand the Risks
Abortion is a serious medical procedure, and just like other medical procedures, there are known risks to be aware of.
The risks can vary depending on the type of abortion procedure, but include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Additional risks you may encounter from surgical abortion include:
- Perforation of the uterus.
- Damage to the cervix.
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall.
Get the Answers and Help You Need
These 3 steps are vital to getting the facts and information you need to make an empowered decision that will protect your health and future.
New Beginnings Pregnancy Center’s caring team offers free, confidential pregnancy screening services, including in-clinic, lab-quality pregnancy testing and follow-up limited ultrasound scans.
Contact us today to schedule your appointment and start getting the answers you deserve.