Abortion, no matter what type, is a serious medical procedure. As such, you owe it to your health and welfare to be fully informed.
All medical procedures and prescription drugs have risks and side effects. Before an abortion, there are three things you need to protect your health: pregnancy testing, an ultrasound, and STD testing.
1. Have You Had a Pregnancy Test?
Pregnancy shares symptoms with several other health conditions, including the flu and the onset of a menstrual period. The surest way to find out if you are pregnant is with a pregnancy test.
Hope Bridge Pregnancy Resource Center provides free pregnancy testing. Our urine pregnancy tests are administered by nurses and are 99% accurate.
2. Have You Had an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound uses sound waves to see into the uterus. At Hope Bridge, we provide a free ultrasound to look for three main things:
- How Far Along You Are in Your Pregnancy
If you are thinking of a medical abortion (also known as the abortion pill), the FDA has only approved it through the first ten weeks (70 days) of pregnancy. We can tell you how far along you are with an ultrasound.
- Your Pregnancy’s Location
In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants itself in the lining of the uterus. However, occasionally, it will implant outside the uterus, typically in one of the fallopian tubes, which is known as an ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical assistance.
- If Your Pregnancy Is Viable
If a heartbeat can be detected, this is a sign that the pregnancy is progressing and may continue. Miscarriage rates are the highest early in pregnancy.
3. Have You Had an STD Test?
Existing STDs can spread deeper into the reproductive system during an abortion, raising the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Hope Bridge can provide local referrals for testing.
Take Your Next Step
At Hope Bridge Pregnancy Resource Center, we provide women with the information they need to make the best choices for their health and future. We’re here for you!
Request an appointment today.