Why Does an Ultrasound Matter if I'm Considering Abortion?

Why Does an Ultrasound Matter if I’m Considering Abortion?

It’s normal to question why you should get an ultrasound if you’re considering abortion.

However, an ultrasound can give you important medical details about your pregnancy that affect your safety and options.

Ascend Women’s Center offers free and confidential pregnancy services, including limited OB ultrasounds, to help you get clear and accurate pregnancy information to protect your health.

What an Ultrasound Shows

Ultrasounds are usually quick and do not use radiation. Instead, they use sound waves to create an image of the structures inside the uterus. Women typically get an early ultrasound, anywhere from seven to eight weeks of pregnancy, to see how the pregnancy is developing and learn essential information.

The important findings an ultrasound shows include the pregnancy’s location, gestational age (how far along you are), and whether or not there’s a heartbeat.

Pregnancy Location

Most pregnancies develop within the uterus; however, in 2% of pregnancies, an ectopic pregnancy can occur. This is when the pregnancy grows outside of the uterus; it can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical attention.

Getting an ultrasound is the only way to see if you’re having an ectopic pregnancy, since you can look inside the uterus for the pregnancy and see your fallopian tubes (where most ectopic pregnancies implant).

How Far Along You Are in Pregnancy

This is also known as the gestational age. An ultrasound measures how long you have been pregnant and estimates your potential due date. Simply counting from the date of your last menstruation can be inaccurate, especially if you have irregular periods.

Knowing the gestational age determines what options are available, since the abortion pill is not FDA-approved in advanced pregnancies.

Detectable Fetal Heartbeat

An ultrasound helps confirm whether the pregnancy is developing as expected by checking for signs of a prior miscarriage, as well as providing other important information, such as whether there are multiple pregnancies, in the case of twins.

If there are signs of miscarriage, clinical guidance often allows for a short period of expectant management, typically 7 to 14 days, during which the body may naturally pass the pregnancy tissue without medical intervention.

However, sometimes treatment is required to prevent infection and other complications.

Why hCG Levels Don’t Give The Full Story

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is the hormone most commonly used to detect pregnancy and is what makes a pregnancy test positive.

hCG can sometimes be elevated even when someone is not currently pregnant, leading to a false positive. This could be after a recent miscarriage, for example, and in rare medical conditions, such as cancer.

That said, arising hCG level is strongly associated with pregnancy. Because of this, healthcare providers don’t rely solely on hCG. They typically combine pregnancy tests with an ultrasound, since the scan provides information that hormone levels cannot.

How Ultrasound Findings Can Impact Abortion

Ultrasound findings are important because they help determine which options are appropriate for your pregnancy. For example, according to the FDA, medical abortion is typically approved for use up to 10 weeks of gestation, meaning it is not used beyond early pregnancy.

Abortion pills are also not effective in cases of ectopic pregnancy, where the pregnancy develops outside the uterus and requires different medical treatment.

Identifying an ectopic pregnancy early is essential to ensure you receive the correct care and reduce the risk of serious health complications.

Get The Support You Need At Ascend Women’s Center

If you are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy and need support, Ascend Women’s Center is here to help. We offer a confidential, non-judgmental space where you can explore your options and take your next steps, including medical-grade pregnancy testing and a limited OB ultrasound at our center.

We understand that facing this situation alone can feel overwhelming and isolating. Our goal is to provide clear, accurate information so you can make a confident and informed decision about your pregnancy.