While the thought of pregnancy can send your mind spinning and wondering about your options, it’s a good idea to confirm your pregnancy first. This step can provide essential details to help you understand your available pregnancy options.
Do you want to get started or talk with a nurse? Schedule an appointment at First Care Clinic today. Keep reading to learn more about pregnancy confirmation.
How Do You Confirm Your Pregnancy?
Confirming your pregnancy involves two main steps: a pregnancy test and an ultrasound scan.
A pregnancy test first detects the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine or blood (depending on the type of test you take). While this hormone is present during pregnancy, it doesn’t give you the full picture.
If you receive a positive pregnancy test, an ultrasound scan is the next step to fill in the blanks. It will tell you how long you have been pregnant (gestational age), whether there’s a heartbeat and the pregnancy is progressing, and the location of your pregnancy. These details will determine the options that make sense based on your situation.
Available Options Based on Ultrasound Results
Certain options only make sense during specific periods and situations.
For instance, the FDA has only approved medical abortion through the first ten weeks. After this timeframe, another type of abortion procedure may be considered safer for a woman’s health.
Additionally, ultrasound can detect when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy), which is an emergency requiring timely treatment.
If an ultrasound cannot detect a heartbeat, it’s either too early in the pregnancy to detect it, or there’s a chance of miscarriage, which is a sudden pregnancy loss before the 20th week. In this case, the pregnancy ended naturally, and the woman would then seek medical care to determine any necessary treatment steps.
If you’re planning to carry to term, an ultrasound can tell you your estimated due date and whether or not you are carrying multiples, which can help you prepare for the future.
Confirm Your Pregnancy at First Care Clinic
Take your first step by scheduling a free and confidential appointment at First Care Clinic to take a medical-grade pregnancy test. If your test is positive, we will provide a limited ultrasound to determine essential details and your available options.
We’re here to help. Schedule your appointment today!