When you find out you are pregnant, your mind can quickly fill with questions. What comes next? What are your options? What do you need to know?
You aren’t alone in asking these questions, and it can be helpful to know that an ultrasound is an important step many women take to understand their pregnancy better and protect their health. An ultrasound gives you clear, reliable information so you can make informed decisions moving forward.
Ultrasound scans are a safe, generally painless procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of your uterus and surrounding tissue. A trained medical professional then reviews those images to gather critical details about your pregnancy.
You may not have expected to be in this situation, and it can be difficult to process everything at once, but understanding what’s happening in your body is an essential part of protecting your health.
Detecting a Miscarriage
Not every pregnancy continues to grow after a positive test. According to the Mayo Clinic, an estimated 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. An ultrasound can detect whether your pregnancy is viable and growing.
If a miscarriage has happened, it can be a heavy and confusing experience, and medical support is crucial.
Identifying an Ectopic Pregnancy
An ultrasound also confirms the location of your pregnancy. In a healthy pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants inside the uterus. However, in some cases, it can implant in a fallopian tube, an ovary, or the cervix. This medical condition is called an ectopic pregnancy.
Treating an ectopic pregnancy right away can help protect you from a serious medical emergency.
Estimating Gestational Age
Using measurements of your pregnancy, an ultrasound scan can also estimate the age of your pregnancy. These measurements matter more than most people realize, as dates calculated from your last menstrual period can be off by several weeks.
If you are considering the abortion pill, knowing the gestational age is especially important. The FDA approves this medication only through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Knowing the accurate age of your pregnancy helps you understand all of your options clearly and safely.
We Are Here for You
At A Women’s Pregnancy Center, we want you to have the information you need to make decisions you feel confident about.
We offer free, confidential pregnancy services, including limited ultrasound scans, at no cost to you.
You do not have to navigate this alone.
If you’d like to learn more or talk through your next steps, we’re here for you. You can contact us to schedule a free, confidential appointment.