A pre-abortion screening is standard care for any woman considering an abortion. It helps you have a comprehensive understanding of your pregnancy before making a decision.
Below are some questions you will want to know the answers to before moving forward with abortion.
Why would I need pre-abortion screening? 5 things you need to know before an abortion.
1. Am I really pregnant?
Sometimes women can get a false positive pregnancy test. This is common if the test is taken too early.
Before moving forward with an abortion, take a medical-grade pregnancy test at our center in Savannah, Georgia. Our results are 99% accurate and 100% confidential.
2. Is my pregnancy viable?
A viable pregnancy means it has the potential to end in a live birth. There are two things that you want to rule out when confirming viability:
Where is my pregnancy growing?
Sometimes a pregnancy can begin to grow outside of the uterus, most often in the fallopian tubes. This is called an ectopic pregnancy and can be a life-threatening condition if not treated. An abortion will not treat an ectopic pregnancy and could mask symptoms that would indicate you need treatment right away.
Am I at risk of miscarriage?
1 in 4 pregnancies end on their own in miscarriage. If you are at risk of a miscarriage, an abortion isn’t necessary.
An ultrasound will help you determine if your pregnancy is viable or not. Thrive Savannah offers free ultrasounds so you can be sure.
3. How far along am I?
Knowing how many weeks pregnant you are influences what abortion options you have. Many women are unable to accurately estimate how far along hey are by using their last menstrual period alone. The best way to determine gestational age is with an ultrasound.
Georgia law prohibits most abortions after fetal heartbeat activity is detected, typically around the 5th or 6th week of pregnancy (as of Oct. 7th, 2024). This does not interfere with getting care for medical emergencies such as miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
It is important for you to know that the abortion pill is not approved by the FDA to be used past 10 weeks of pregnancy. Taking the abortion pill past 10 weeks can increase your risk for complications like an incomplete abortion or infection.
4. Do I have any STIs?
1 in 5 people have a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Most people aren’t even aware they have an STI because they often show no symptoms of infection.
Having an abortion while infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea, two of the most common STIs, can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID can cause permanent damage to your reproductive organs and potentially lead to future ectopic pregnancies or infertility.
Contact us to see what testing we currently have available at our center and schedule a free appointment.
5. Do I understand abortion procedures and side effects?
Some women express they felt under prepared for the abortion process. We don’t want this to be your experience. At our pre-abortion screening we provide abortion education to help give you a full understanding of what the abortion process might look like and what risks and side effects, both physically and mentally, are most common.
You don’t ever have to be worried about being judged or pressured into a pregnancy decision at our clinic. We care about you, your health, and your future. Only you can decide what is best for you.
Have more questions?
If you want to know more about pre-abortion screening or want to book an appointment, contact us today. We are here for you.