Before any major medical procedure, meeting with your healthcare provider to see if you’re physically and mentally prepared is vital. Getting an abortion is no different. Experts recommend specific tests and a complete review of your medical history. Here are three things you need to do before you schedule an abortion.
1. Confirm Your Pregnancy
Did you know there is a possibility you are not pregnant even though you got a positive pregnancy test? It doesn’t happen often, but experts say over one in four pregnancies ends in an early miscarriage.
Because it takes your body time to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels, it’s possible to get a positive pregnancy test result and no longer be pregnant. How do you find out if you’ve miscarried? With a pregnancy test and ultrasound.
My Life Clinic offers free and confidential medical-grade pregnancy testing. Even if you’ve taken a home test, it’s essential to take another to verify the results.
If our test is positive, too, we will schedule you for a free limited ultrasound.
2. Determine How Far Along You Are
The FDA has approved the use of the drugs in the abortion pill method through 10 weeks of pregnancy only (70 days after the first day of your last menstrual period). Why is there a limit? The farther along you are in your pregnancy, the more likely you are to have complications.
Some of the complications of the abortion pill method include the following:
- An incomplete abortion, which may require a surgical procedure
- An ongoing pregnancy
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Many women use period tracker apps to determine their cycles. However, studies show they often give conflicting information and do not correctly predict ovulation (when you’re most likely to get pregnant).
What is the best way to find out how far along you are? An ultrasound. An ultrasound scan is one of the most accurate ways to determine how long you’ve been pregnant.
3. Learn the Location of Your Pregnancy
It can be a life-threatening situation if your pregnancy is located outside the uterus. Although rare, a pregnancy can form somewhere other than the uterus. This type of pregnancy is called ectopic.
Once again, ultrasound is the best way to determine a pregnancy’s location. If an ectopic pregnancy is detected, you need to see your healthcare provider immediately because an abortion does not end this type of pregnancy.
Contact My Life Clinic
We value your privacy and assure you our services are strictly confidential. Missouri bans all abortions, so it may be necessary for you to travel out of state. Before you take the time or spend money, visit My Life Clinic for our free and confidential services.
We want you to have the information you need. Make an appointment for a free pregnancy test and a free limited ultrasound.
Contact us to schedule your free appointment. We’re here for you.
