Facing an unexpected pregnancy can be overwhelming; you may be weighing your options or still in the early stages of confirming your pregnancy. Either way, getting an ultrasound is an important next step.
A positive pregnancy test alone does not provide enough information to make a decision since it doesn’t provide you with the important details an ultrasound does, including the location, gestational age, and viability.
These details can directly affect your health and the options available to you.
Compass Women’s Clinic of Athens offers no-cost, limited obstetrical ultrasound exams following a positive pregnancy test result. After we receive your results, our licensed healthcare providers will discuss your results and options moving forward.
Schedule your appointment at the clinic today. We are here to help.
1. It Identifies If Your Pregnancy Is Developing Normally
An ultrasound can help determine whether the pregnancy is developing as expected and if a heartbeat can be detected.
Research shows that 10-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, and a pregnancy test can still read as positive even after a loss due to the remaining hCG in your body.
If a miscarriage has already occurred, additional medical follow-up may be needed.
2. The Location Affects Your Health
An ultrasound confirms that the pregnancy is located inside the uterus. Around 2% of pregnancies can implant outside of the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tube. This is also known as an ectopic pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy is not a viable pregnancy and needs urgent medical attention due to the risk of life-threatening internal bleeding if the fallopian tube bursts. Abortion pills do not treat an ectopic pregnancy.
Early symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are the same as normal early pregnancy symptoms; this is why an ultrasound is necessary to confirm the location of the pregnancy.
3. How Far Along You Are Impacts Risk
Abortion pills are FDA-approved through ten weeks of gestation; taking these drugs beyond this timeframe puts you at a higher risk of complications such as an incomplete abortion.
An ultrasound provides your gestational age (how far along you are). Estimating gestational age based solely on your last menstrual period can be inaccurate, especially if your cycles are irregular.
Get the Information You Need
We know how overwhelmed you may feel right now. Taking the time to slow down, get the medical details you need, and sort through your options can help you make an informed decision about your pregnancy.
Compass Women’s Clinic of Athens is here to provide you with a safe and confidential space where you can ask questions and talk about your concerns, free of judgment or pressure.
Make an appointment at Compass Women’s Clinic of Athens, or call 706-707-6464.
Compass Women’s Clinic of Athens does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
