Do I really need an ultrasound if I am going to have an abortion?

The simple answer: Yes, you need an ultrasound.

But why?

You need to have an ultrasound whether you are choosing abortion, adoption, or parenting as it is used to confirm a viable pregnancy through a heartbeat. It’s necessary to check for the heartbeat to rule out the chance of miscarriage. If you are having a miscarriage, there is no need to pay to have an abortion as it will end naturally. It is estimated that up to 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage.

Dating of the pregnancy is also needed before an abortion. You will find out approximately how far along you are in your pregnancy which will determine which type of abortion you would be looking at. For more information on the types of abortion, visit our Considering Abortion page.

You also need to make sure that the pregnancy is correctly placed in your uterus. If this is not the case, it is called an ectopic pregnancy. An ultrasound will determine if the fertilized egg has attached to the lining of the uterus and not the fallopian tube or other area of the abdomen. This is important to know if you are having an abortion because an abortion will not be effective for an ectopic pregnancy. If you do have an ectopic pregnancy, you need to seek care from an OB-GYN.

Bottom line: You need an ultrasound to make sure you are not having a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy before having an abortion.

So, where can you get an ultrasound? We got you covered. The Resource Center offers 1st-trimester ultrasounds as a part of our no-cost pre-abortion screenings.

If you would like to schedule an appointment today, please call 970-353-2673 or schedule online through the link below.