Unplanned pregnancies make up almost half of all pregnancies in the US. If you find yourself in this situation, you are probably researching all the different options (abortion, parenting, or adoption) and weighing the pros and cons.
It’s important to remember that support is available for you in your consideration process as you make the best decision for yourself and your reproductive health.
Before having an abortion, consider taking these three steps.
Steps To Take Before an Abortion
First things first. Before an abortion, you’ll want to make sure that you are, in fact, actually pregnant. That’s why at North Care Women’s Clinic, we offer free pregnancy confirmation appointments. These appointments include:
1.Get Lab-Quality Pregnancy Testing
Start with our medical-grade pregnancy test rather than relying on an at-home pregnancy test or common pregnancy symptoms such as tender or sore breasts, fatigue, nausea, or missed periods.
2. Get an Ultrasound to Learn How Far Along You Are and If Your Pregnancy is Viable
If your pregnancy test is positive, your next step is to have an ultrasound. An ultrasound can determine whether your pregnancy is viable (whether it will carry to term). An ultrasound will also confirm the location of your pregnancy. If you have an ectopic pregnancy (where the pregnancy is located outside the uterus), for example, you should not take the abortion pill.
The type of abortion you are eligible for depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy, or the gestational age of the pregnancy. This can be determined through ultrasound measurements as well.
3. Get Tested for STDs
It’s always a good idea to be tested regularly for STDs, and it’s especially important before an abortion. Having untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea at the time of surgical abortion can put women at a higher risk of developing the pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Even if you don’t have symptoms, take the time to get tested, because it’s common to be infected without even knowing it. By detecting STDs and getting treatment early, you can greatly reduce the possibility of permanent harm to your reproductive health.
At North Care Women’s Clinic, we provide free STD testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Your health is worth it – make an appointment today.
