Before having an abortion, there are important steps to take to protect your health and ensure you receive safe, appropriate care. At My Choices Pregnancy Center, one appointment can help you complete these crucial steps and better understand your pregnancy.
Taking time to confirm key details, such as whether you are pregnant, how far along you are, and your overall reproductive health, can help you make an informed decision.
The three most important steps are pregnancy testing, ultrasound evaluation, and STD/STI testing. Schedule an appointment today to receive no-cost pregnancy confirmation and read on for more information on critical services.
Confirm Your Pregnancy
The first step is confirming that you are pregnant. Many women rely on at-home pregnancy tests, but these tests are not always reliable.
Tests taken within two to three weeks after conception may be inaccurate because pregnancy hormones are not yet high enough to be detected. On the other hand, tests taken five or more weeks into pregnancy may give false results because hormone levels are extremely high, which can also interfere with the accuracy of the test.
The most reliable pregnancy test is a blood test performed by a healthcare provider. If there is any uncertainty, talk to a healthcare provider and ask them for a clinical blood test to confirm your pregnancy. However, a urine pregnancy test is generally 99% accurate.
Get an Ultrasound
An ultrasound is another essential step to take before getting an abortion. This imaging test can determine:
- How far along you are (gestational age): It determines which options may be available to you.
- The location of the pregnancy: It confirms the pregnancy is inside the uterus and not ectopic, which can be life-threatening.
- Whether the pregnancy is progressing: It can help identify complications such as miscarriage or molar pregnancy, an abnormal growth of cells in the uterus.
During an in-person visit, a healthcare provider may perform an exam in addition to the ultrasound to confirm these details. While our ultrasounds are non-diagnostic, we offer medical referrals if anything looks out of the ordinary.
STD/STI Testing
Testing for sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STDs/STIs) is also an important step before having an abortion. These infections are spread through sexual contact and may be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
Many STDs do not cause noticeable symptoms, so you may not know that you are infected. However, untreated infections can lead to complications or affect your reproductive health.
Testing is the only way to confirm whether an STD is present. Identifying and treating STDs early helps reduce risks to your health and supports better long-term health outcomes.
Taking the Next Step
Taking these three steps before having an abortion ensures that the care you receive is safe, informed, and appropriate for you.
The team at My Choices Pregnancy Help Center is here to support you with pregnancy testing and limited ultrasound services in a compassionate and confidential environment.
Schedule an appointment with My Choices Pregnancy Help Center today to get the answers and support you need.
All abortion information cited in this blog is accurate at the time of writing.
My Choices Pregnancy Help Center doesn’t provide or refer for abortions.
