Why Do I Need An Ultrasound?
If your pregnancy test at Alpha Center is positive, a nurse will evaluate you to determine your eligibility for an ultrasound.
A positive pregnancy test only reveals the possibility of pregnancy. When weighing your options for an unplanned pregnancy, an ultrasound can help answer three major questions about the pregnancy before you make a decision about the outcome of your pregnancy. We offer both abdominal and transvaginal ultrasounds to determine the following:
1. Is The Pregnancy Growing, or Have I Miscarried?
Experts estimate that 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage. Depending on when you took your pregnancy test, it is possible to get a positive result even though you have already miscarried. Your body takes time to return to its pre-pregnancy hormone levels.
Ultrasound can detect whether there is a heartbeat or not, and whether the pregnancy is growing as expected. If your pregnancy test is positive, but no heartbeat is detected, you have either likely miscarried or it is too early in your pregnancy to detect a heartbeat (before six weeks).
2. How Long Have I Been Pregnant?
Your options, particularly if you are considering abortion, can change depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy. Ultrasound gives you a more accurate date than a calendar or period tracker, especially if you aren’t sure when your last period was.
3. Why Does It Matter Where the Pregnancy is Located?
Although rare (happening in approximately 2% of the time), a pregnancy can grow somewhere other than your uterus, like in the fallopian tubes. If the pregnancy is implanted somewhere outside the uterus, it is called an ectopic pregnancy.
Because there isn’t enough room for a pregnancy to grow, an ectopic pregnancy becomes extremely dangerous, even life-threatening, and you will require further medical care. Abortion does not treat an ectopic pregnancy, nor is the treatment of an ectopic pregnancy considered an abortion. If our nurse suspects the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy or is not seeing what they would expect to see based on gestational age, you will be referred to seek further medical care.
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include:
- Severe abdominal or pelvic pain accompanied by vaginal bleeding
- Extreme lightheadedness or fainting
- Shoulder pain
What Happens After An Ultrasound?
If the ultrasound reveals that your pregnancy is growing in the correct location, has a detectable heartbeat, and indicates how far along you are, it is time to review your options.
We are here to help you get the answers you need to make an empowered decision for an unplanned pregnancy. Request a no-cost appointment to get the information you need to make the best decision for you. Your test results and our conversations are strictly confidential, even if you are a minor. No insurance is necessary.
Schedule an appointment with one of our registered nurses today.
Ultrasound scans are used to confirm the presence of a viable intrauterine pregnancy. We do not use ultrasound to determine gender or diagnose abnormalities. Eligibility criteria apply.