An abortion clinic may or may not offer an ultrasound before an abortion, though sometimes they do.  The real question is how could an ultrasound benefit you?  Let’s take a look at the pro’s and con’s.

Pro’s:

  • Viability Check: An ultrasound helps determine if your positive pregnancy test is really a living, growing pregnancy or just a response of hormones from a miscarriage.  If there is not a living, growing pregnancy, an abortion is not needed to end it.  The benefit here is clear: no emotional burden from having an abortion, no physical risk from having an abortion, no cost from having an abortion.   
  • Ruling out Ectopic Pregnancy: If an abortion is performed (whether by pills or surgery), it will not end a pregnancy growing outside of the uterus, known as an ectopic pregnancy (and sometimes known as a tubal pregnancy, if growing specifically in the fallopian tube).  If undetected (and especially if not suspected, thinking the abortion ended the pregnancy), an ectopic pregnancy can be a dangerous medical situation.  An ultrasound looks for where the pregnancy is located.
  • Determination of Size/Age of Pregnancy:  Abortion procedures vary depending on how far along the pregnancy is.  While the date of the last menstrual period provides an initial estimate, it is often corrected by the date/age discovered in the ultrasound.

Con’s:

  • At many abortion facilities, there is a fee for an ultrasound or insurance is needed. 

HOWEVER, at the Women’s Clinics Maryland, all of our services are FREE of charge.  We are able to provide a free, viability ultrasound if you have a positive pregnancy test and are considering abortion.

Text us today for your appointment: 443.333.8856.