How Can an Ultrasound Protect Your Health and Safety?
Pregnancy comes with noticeable symptoms, but everything else that is happening in your body can feel like a mystery. How far along are you? What does your pregnancy look like at this stage?
Only an ultrasound can answer these questions to protect your health and safety. No matter which option you’re considering, an ultrasound will provide you with critical health details to inform your next steps.
If you think you may be pregnant, schedule an appointment with Assure Women’s Center to receive compassionate care and accurate information in a confidential setting. If your pregnancy test is positive, we can offer a no-cost ultrasound to provide you with essential health information.
Why an Ultrasound Matters for Your Safety
A positive pregnancy test only confirms the presence of pregnancy hormones. It does not describe where the pregnancy is located, how far along you are (gestational age), or whether your pregnancy is progressing.
An ultrasound helps answer these critical questions and can identify medical concerns early, before they become dangerous. For example, you could miss a complication like an ectopic pregnancy, or move forward with an abortion pill decision when you are too far along in your pregnancy.
These are only two examples of preventable health risks. Getting an ultrasound helps you make fact-based pregnancy decisions that put your health first.
Understanding Pregnancy Location and PUL
One important reason ultrasounds are used early in pregnancy is to determine where the pregnancy is located to prevent a medical emergency called ectopic pregnancy. In some cases, an ultrasound may not immediately show a visible pregnancy even though the pregnancy test is positive. This situation is known as a Pregnancy of Unknown Location (PUL).
A PUL can happen for several reasons. The pregnancy may be extremely early and not yet visible on ultrasound. In other cases, the pregnancy may have already ended in a very early miscarriage, or a pregnancy is developing outside the uterus, known as an ectopic pregnancy.
Detecting Ectopic Pregnancy Early
Ectopic pregnancies can become life-threatening if not treated promptly due to the risk of rupture of a fallopian tube. An ultrasound is used to detect or rule out this condition. Identifying concerns early helps prevent internal bleeding and complications, which could lead to the necessary removal of a fallopian tube.
Confirming Pregnancy Progress and Gestational Age
An ultrasound can also help determine whether the pregnancy is progressing and provide an estimate of how far along you are. This information is vital for understanding your options. For instance, if you are over ten weeks into your pregnancy, the abortion pill is both less effective and comes with more risks.
You Deserve Compassionate Care
Assure Women’s Center is here to help you navigate your pregnancy.
Our team provides a respectful environment where your health and questions are taken seriously. Contact us to schedule your confidential appointment today to learn more about your pregnancy and protect your health.
