Ultrasounds
You may have heard of ultrasounds before and are wondering what they entail. Ultrasounds produce ultrasonic sounds that create images on a screen and can tell providers essential details about the human body. They can be used to identify and diagnose a variety of conditions.
Why Do I Need An Ultrasound?
Getting an ultrasound while pregnant is critical to ensuring you stay on top of your health and know essential details about your pregnancy. These include:
- Viability: Some pregnancies can end in miscarriage (up to 20%), which may or may not require further treatment. An ultrasound will tell you whether there is a detectable heartbeat and whether the pregnancy is viable (growing). Remember, if you are having a miscarriage, it is not your fault! They are relatively common.
- Gestational Age: An ultrasound will tell your provider how far along you are, which is known as your gestational age. Your gestational age will inform you of your options and tell you which abortion procedures you would use.
- Location of Pregnancy: Sometimes, ectopic pregnancies can occur. An ectopic pregnancy results when the fertilized egg has implanted in a location other than the uterus, such as a fallopian tube. They are very dangerous if left untreated and require immediate medical attention as they are not viable and can cause major medical harm to the woman. An ultrasound will determine whether you have an ectopic pregnancy or if your pregnancy is in the correct location.
What Does An Ultrasound Do?
In the context of pregnancy, an obstetrical ultrasound will help to confirm vital information. Even if you are planning to choose the abortion option, you’ll still want to receive an ultrasound before having the procedure. The FDA has approved the abortion pill for up to 10 weeks gestation only, so you must know how far along you are. Otherwise, a surgical abortion is your only option later in the pregnancy. Spero Medical is here to offer you both early gestational ultrasounds from 6 weeks and further.