There are three things needed before abortion: an ultrasound scan, STD testing and treatment, and accurate abortion information.
Taking Care of Your Women’s Health
Before pursuing abortion, it’s critical to take all the necessary precautions to protect your women’s health. You want to make sure you won’t experience any preventable health complications, and you want to protect your mental and emotional health.
In order to do this, three things are needed.
1. An Ultrasound Scan
An ultrasound scan will help rule out a few preventable complications. It will show the inside of your uterus through imaging technology to reveal any signs of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. It will also tell you how far along you are (pregnancy gestation).
Ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, which is where it should naturally implant. The most common form of ectopic pregnancy is a tubal pregnancy when the fertilized egg implants inside a fallopian tube. If this grows, it can potentially lead to tubal rupture (when the fallopian tube bursts open).
It’s essential to catch these early and get the necessary treatment. Abortion pills will not be able to treat it because those only impact pregnancies inside the uterus.
Also, knowing how far along you are will help you determine which abortion procedure you’re eligible for depending on safety. The FDA has only approved the abortion pill for up to 70 days of pregnancy. After this window, a surgical abortion may be the recommended procedure.
2. STD Testing and Treatment
Since abortion disrupts the natural barrier created by your cervix, it raises the chances of an existing STD being spread further into your reproductive system and developing into Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). This can lead to long-term damage, such as infertility and chronic pelvic pain.
By having STD testing and treatment before an abortion, you can better protect your reproductive health. It’s good to be safe and take preventative measures.
3. Accurate Abortion Information
This third thing is needed to protect your emotional and mental health. You want to know exactly what to expect, the risks, the side effects, and any post-abortion care that might be necessary.
The abortion pill does include a significant amount of bleeding at home. You want to know these things before you move forward, especially if you are someone who struggles with seeing blood.
You also might want to talk to other people who have been in pregnancy situations and have chosen abortion or other options. What did they go through? How did they feel? Try to get multiple perspectives. It will benefit you to feel fully aware.
Pregnancy Support at Life Choices
No matter what you’re going through right now, you can find caring and professional support at Life Choices. We have free pregnancy services available to keep you safe and help you feel confident.
Schedule an appointment today!
Please note: We do not perform or refer for abortions at Life Choices.