The last thing you want right now is to be pregnant. Yet, with a missed period and a positive pregnancy test in your hand, you seem to be facing a reality you weren’t prepared for.
Your mind naturally starts racing with questions.
How did this happen?
What should I do now?
You start researching abortion, but there is such an overload of information available that it all becomes confusing. And now you aren’t sure what your next steps should be.
First, know that you aren’t alone! According to the March of Dimes, more than 50% of all pregnancies are unplanned. That means many women are, or have been, in your shoes.
Secondly, compassionate healthcare professionals are available to walk you through each step of discovering an unexpected pregnancy.
Read on to learn more about the importance of a pre-abortion screening appointment and why scheduling one is your critical first step. You might be wondering what a pre-abortion screening is, so we’ll discuss that first.
What Is Pre-abortion Screening?
A pre-abortion screening appointment is critical because it equips you with the information you deserve to make a fully informed decision about your unexpected pregnancy.
It has four essential purposes, which include:
- Confirming that you have a viable pregnancy
- Determining gestational age (how far along you are in your pregnancy) and available options
- Testing to be sure you don’t have an STI (sexually transmitted infection)
- Supporting you and getting all of your questions answered
Next, we’ll discuss the value of each aspect of a pre-abortion screening appointment.
Four Reasons to Make a Pre-abortion Screening Appointment
Confirming that your pregnancy is viable with an ultrasound
Did you know that you can have a positive pregnancy test with a pregnancy that has absolutely no chance of survival? This is called a non-viable pregnancy.
A positive pregnancy test informs you that the pregnancy hormone, hCG, was detected in your urine. However, it does not tell you if you have a viable pregnancy; only an ultrasound can do that. A viable pregnancy is one where the fetus is likely to survive the pregnancy and childbirth.
If your pregnancy is determined to be viable by ultrasound – or sometimes by a repeat ultrasound, a registered nurse can help you explore which abortion methods are available to you at your stage of pregnancy. She will also provide you with education about each abortion procedure, talk with you about potential risks, and answer your questions so you can make an informed decision.
On the other hand, a non-viable pregnancy cannot survive. Up to one-fourth of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, and 80 percent of all miscarriages happen in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.
What does this mean for you? It means you can avoid putting yourself through an abortion you don’t need if an ultrasound reveals you have a non-viable pregnancy.
Determining gestational age (how far along you are in your pregnancy) and available options
An ultrasound will also help you know what options are available to you because they vary depending on the gestational age of your pregnancy.
It’s common for a woman to experience implantation bleeding at the beginning of her pregnancy and mistakenly count that as a period. When that happens, you can be much further along in your pregnancy than you realized.
The ultrasound provides a precise fetal measurement so you accurately know how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Having STI testing
We also provide pre-abortion STI testing to prevent pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is a severe infection of the reproductive organs. If you have an abortion, even using the abortion pill, while you have an undiagnosed/untreated STI, you are at risk of PID.
PID can cause lifelong consequences, including chronic pain and future infertility.
Since most women don’t experience STI symptoms, it’s crucial to have STI testing before moving forward with any form of abortion. STI testing and treatment, if it’s needed, protect your reproductive health.
Getting answers to your questions
Deciding what to do when facing an unexpected pregnancy is hard. Yet, you’re here educating yourself, and that will help you make a decision with confidence.
At a pre-abortion screening appointment, you can rest assured that a licensed healthcare professional will provide unbiased answers to all of your questions. You and your health are our top priority. Since all of our services are at no cost to you, there is no conflict of interest based on your pregnancy decision.
Now that you know why a pre-abortion screening appointment is important, we’ll discuss what you can expect during the appointment.
What Happens During a Pre-abortion Screening Appointment?
Healthcare providers at Corbella Clinic are passionate about equipping you with the accurate information you need before having an abortion. As a result, you can expect to feel educated and empowered during your pre-abortion screening appointment.
Our pre-abortion screening appointment includes:
- A medical-grade pregnancy test
- A pregnancy ultrasound, if indicated
- STI testing, if indicated
- Education about pregnancy, abortion, and options
Pre-abortion Screening at Corbella Clinic
Are you considering abortion and not sure what your next step should be? If so, make an appointment today for a pre-abortion screening at Corbella Clinic. You can also call us at 847-697-0200 or send a text to 224-268-5848.
You are beautiful and courageous! We’re here to offer the compassionate support you deserve.
