Abortion is a serious medical decision with physical and mental health risks. At HopePlace, our trained client advocates recommend a pre-abortion consultation. Get all the information you need about your pregnancy, abortion procedures, and potential risks beforehand.
Did you know there’s a chance you are no longer pregnant? Find out about early miscarriages and more. Schedule a free appointment to be prepared ahead of time.
1. Are You Actually Pregnant?
That seems like a silly question when your period is late and you got a positive pregnancy test. But experts estimate as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage. That’s more than one out of every four pregnancies.
A miscarriage isn’t your fault. It can happen for many reasons. Because your body takes time to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels, you can get a positive pregnancy test even though you are no longer pregnant.
How do you find out if you’ve miscarried or if your pregnancy is continuing to grow? With ultrasound.
2. Do You Know How Far Along You Are?
Abortion providers determine which procedure you have based on the number of weeks you have been pregnant. The FDA only approves the use of abortion drugs for medication abortion through 10 weeks of pregnancy (70 days from the first day of your last menstrual period).
If you have heard about the abortion pill, you are familiar with a medication abortion. You take two drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The first drug, mifepristone, is highly regulated by the FDA. You can only get it from certified providers.
The reason the FDA puts a limit on its use is because the drugs become less effective the farther along you are in your pregnancy. You run the risk of an incomplete abortion, which means the drugs terminate the pregnancy, but some of it remains in your body. Depending on how far along you are, you may need to have a surgical procedure.
Ultrasound can determine the number of weeks you have been pregnant. Often, women learn they are farther along than they expected.
3. Where Is Your Pregnancy Located?
This seems like another ridiculous question, but if the location of your pregnancy is wrong, it could be life-threatening. Most pregnancies form in a woman’s uterus, but on rare occasions, the pregnancy forms outside the uterus. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy is very dangerous. If the pregnancy grows anywhere other than in the uterus, it could cause major health complications. How do you find out the location of your pregnancy? Through ultrasound.
How Can HopePlace Help?
We offer free, highly accurate pregnancy tests. Experts recommend you take more than one in case you get different results. Start with a HopePlace pregnancy test. If the test is positive, we can provide a referral for a free ultrasound. If necessary, we may also be able to cover the cost of transportation.
Get your pre-abortion consultation before you make any other decisions. Schedule an appointment by calling or texting (870) 352-8506. You can also sign up online. Our appointments and services are completely free. We’re here for you.