Before any abortion procedure, whether chemical or surgical, it’s important to do three things:
- Take another pregnancy test to confirm your results
- Get an ultrasound to verify critical pregnancy details
- Get tested for STDs to prevent pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Skipping any of these critical steps can jeopardize your health and safety.
Take a Pregnancy Test
Did you know getting a false result on your pregnancy test is possible? Taking it too soon or at the wrong time of day can impact whether you get an accurate result or not.
To confirm your initial result, taking a second test is a good idea. We offer pregnancy tests for free at our center and can also help with your next step, which is getting an ultrasound.
Get an Ultrasound
If you’re considering abortion, you may think an ultrasound is an unnecessary step in that process. However, an ultrasound reveals essential information that you need to protect your health and safety.
First, an ultrasound will tell you how far along you are. The gestational age will determine which abortion procedure you can pursue, as a chemical abortion (the abortion pill) is only FDA-approved through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Second, an ultrasound will reveal the location of your pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a nonviable pregnancy located outside of the uterus, most often in the fallopian tubes. This type of pregnancy can be life-threatening, and abortion does not treat it.
Test for STDs
The third thing you need to do before getting an abortion is to test for STDs.
Did you know that if you have an abortion (whether chemical or surgical) with an untreated STD, it can have damaging health consequences?
According to the National Institutes of Health, “Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is the most prevalent complication and can lead to chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, infertility, and a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.”