If you’re considering abortion, it’s important to take a few steps to protect your health and make an informed decision. Before moving forward, you should confirm your pregnancy, receive recommended screenings, and learn about the potential risks involved.
While that may seem like a lot of steps, many of them can be addressed during a complimentary appointment at The Hope Clinic in Berne, Indiana.
We offer no-cost, confidential services to help you understand your options and take care of your health when considering abortion. Schedule your appointment today at a time that works best for you.
Here are three things you need to do to protect your health and safety before an abortion:
1. Confirm Your Pregnancy
A home pregnancy test can provide the initial answer of whether or not you’re pregnant, but it doesn’t show the full picture.
You’ll need lab-quality testing and an ultrasound to confirm that your pregnancy is progressing in the uterus and determine how far along you are. Ultrasounds can also detect complications such as ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage, which both require different procedures than abortion.
Screening for Complications
An ectopic pregnancy happens in about 2% of pregnancies, and it’s when a pregnancy grows outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. It can lead to life-threatening bleeding if left undetected and untreated,
A miscarriage is a loss of a pregnancy during the first twenty weeks. An ultrasound can detect this by screening for a fetal heartbeat. If a heartbeat can’t be found beyond about six weeks, there’s a chance you miscarried. You may or may not need a treatment to prevent infection, as some early miscarriages resolve on their own.
2. Get Tested for STIs
If you have a sexually transmitted infection, getting treated before any abortion procedure can protect your health. Untreated infections can increase your risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause long-term health problems like chronic pelvic pain and infertility.
3. Understand the Risks and Side Effects
Both medical and surgical abortions come with potential risks and side effects to understand. Read more about each procedure and learn whether you have pre-existing conditions that could make one of the abortion types unsafe.
For instance, because medical abortion triggers heavy bleeding and blood clots, it’s not for every woman. Certain medications like steroids or blood thinners could make this procedure unsafe, and so can health conditions like heart and bleeding disorders. You’d also never want to attempt a medical abortion with an IUD currently in place.
Let’s Talk! We Can Help.
You only get one life, so it’s important you protect it. Taking these steps can protect your health from serious complications.
At The Hope Clinic, we understand that every woman’s situation is different, and we’re here to walk alongside you. No matter what option you’re leaning toward, you don’t have to feel alone.
Schedule your appointment today at The Hope Clinic to receive the answers, support, and compassionate care you deserve.