An ultrasound is an important first step for any pregnancy. An ultrasound provides important medical information that a home pregnancy test can’t. If the abortion pill is something you’re considering, learning more about your pregnancy first can help protect your health. Request a free, confidential appointment at Hope Women’s Center in McKinney today.
How the Abortion Pill Works
The abortion pill is most frequently a two-drug regimen. The first drug, mifepristone, blocks progesterone, a hormone required to sustain the pregnancy. Without it, the uterine lining thins and the pregnancy detaches. The second drug, misoprostol, causes contractions to expel the pregnancy tissue from the body.
Risks of this process include heavy or prolonged bleeding, incomplete abortion requiring a follow-up surgical procedure, infection, and an ongoing pregnancy if the drugs do not work.
Why the Ultrasound Matters Specifically for the Abortion Pill
Three things an ultrasound confirms are directly relevant to whether the abortion pill is appropriate for your situation:
- Gestational age. The abortion pill is FDA-approved only through 10 weeks of pregnancy. Dates calculated from a last menstrual period can be inaccurate. An ultrasound provides a more reliable measurement.
- Pregnancy location. The abortion pill does not treat an ectopic pregnancy, a condition where the pregnancy develops outside the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy requires immediate medical care and can become life-threatening if undetected. An ultrasound confirms the pregnancy is located in the uterus before any drugs are taken.
- Viability. Between 10 and 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, according to the Mayo Clinic. If a miscarriage has already occurred, abortion is not the correct medical procedure. An ultrasound confirms whether the pregnancy is still developing.
Your Next Step
Hope Women’s Center provides free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and pre-abortion consultations at no cost. Call or text (972) 562-4673 or request your free, confidential appointment online.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
