3 Things Needed Before an Abortion

In some ways, an unplanned pregnancy is like an unexpected medical diagnosis. You’re shocked, this may affect plans you’ve made for your future, and you’re not sure what steps to take.

If you are considering an elective abortion, taking the following health screenings is important to ensure you’re doing everything possible to protect your reproductive health.

Lab-Quality Pregnancy Testing

Taking a lab-quality pregnancy test is the first step before anything else. Instead of relying on common pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, or even a missed period, it’s important to verify your pregnancy with a pregnancy test. 

At First Care, we provide free lab-quality urine pregnancy testing that is 99% accurate. You can be confident in your results. 

We can also help you determine the best pregnancy test time.

Ultrasound

An ultrasound is one of the most important health screenings you can take if you suspect you are currently pregnant. This scan can provide you with the following information:

• Age of the pregnancy
• Viability of the pregnancy
• Location of the pregnancy

This information is vital because the age of the pregnancy can affect your eligibility for a medication abortion (which is FDA-approved up to 70 days of gestational age of the pregnancy). 

The viability of the pregnancy will determine whether or not you’ve miscarried. Up to 1 in 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage, so it’s important to assess your pregnancy’s status to know whether or not you’re still eligible for an abortion procedure. 

Additionally, an ultrasound gives you the location of the pregnancy, so you know whether or not it is ectopic. An ectopic pregnancy is outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube, and can rupture if not treated immediately. An ectopic pregnancy is not eligible for an abortion.

STD Testing

It is still possible to be an asymptomatic carrier of an STD, which means you may not have symptoms. If you have an untreated STD and undergo an elective abortion, this could increase your risk for complications. 

At First Care, we offer no-cost STD testing and can recommend treatment options for you.

Next Steps

No one should feel like they have to face an unplanned pregnancy alone, so let us walk alongside you. We offer no-cost pregnancy services such as complimentary ultrasounds and options consultations.

Contact us today to schedule your appointment! We are here for you.