An unplanned pregnancy can feel like a crisis, and your first instinct might be to find a fast solution. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s common to think you need to make a decision right now. If you’re considering an abortion, it’s a medical procedure, and like any medical procedure, it’s vital to have all the facts about your health first.
At New Hope, we believe you have the right to make a decision that is fully informed, confident, and safe. Before you move forward, here are five critical questions you deserve to have answered.
1. Am I definitely pregnant?
You may have taken one or more at-home pregnancy tests, and those are a great starting point. However, home tests can sometimes be inaccurate. Before you go any further, confirming your pregnancy with a medical-grade test is an important first step. This ensures you’re working with accurate information. We provide free services, including lab-quality pregnancy tests, to give you that clear, reliable result.
2. Is my pregnancy viable and in the right place?
This is the most important question you can ask for your health and safety, and only an ultrasound can answer it.
- Viability: A positive pregnancy test confirms the pregnancy hormone, but it doesn’t tell you if the pregnancy is viable (developing with a heartbeat). According to the Mayo Clinic, a significant number of pregnancies end in natural miscarriage. An ultrasound can confirm if the pregnancy is progressing or if you are already miscarrying.
- Location: In rare cases, a pregnancy can implant outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. This is a dangerous, non-viable condition called an ectopic pregnancy, which the Mayo Clinic describes as a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. The abortion pill will not treat an ectopic pregnancy and can delay the critical care you need.
A free ultrasound at our center can provide these vital answers.
3. How far along am I?
This is another question that only an ultrasound can answer accurately. Knowing your gestational age—how many weeks you are pregnant—is essential medical information.
Your last menstrual period can sometimes be an unreliable way to date a pregnancy, especially if your cycles are irregular. The gestational age is not just a number; it determines the types of abortion procedures that are available to you. The abortion pill, for example, is only FDA-approved for use up to a certain number of weeks. An ultrasound provides the precise measurements needed to know your options.
4. Have I been tested for STIs?
This question might be the last thing on your mind, but it is crucial for your long-term reproductive health. Many STIs, like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, often have no symptoms.
If you have an untreated STI, undergoing an abortion procedure can risk spreading the infection from your vaginal canal up into your uterus. This can cause a serious complication called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). According to the CDC, PID can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and an increased risk of future ectopic pregnancies. Getting screened before any procedure is vital. We offer referrals for confidential STI testing to protect your health.
5. Am I feeling pressured, or do I need more time to think?
This is a life-changing decision, not one that should be made in a panic or under pressure from a partner, family, or your circumstances. You have the right to take a breath and explore all your options in a safe, confidential environment.
Have you had a chance to get factual abortion information about the procedures and risks? Have you had time to explore what it would look like to parent or make an adoption plan? We provide confidential options consultations to give you a pressure-free space to talk through every choice, so you can make the one that is truly best for you.
Wrapping Up
These questions aren’t meant to add to your stress; they’re meant to empower you. You deserve to make this decision with clarity, confidence, and complete information about your health.
At New Hope, we can help you get the answers to these critical first questions. We provide free pregnancy testing, free limited ultrasounds, and STI testing referrals, all in a confidential and compassionate environment. We are here to support you with facts, not pressure.
Schedule your free appointment online or contact us today. We are here to help.