Why Should I Confirm My Pregnancy Before an Abortion?

Here at Mya, we recommend preliminary testing done on site to determine that an abortion is necessary. Within the first trimester, up to thirty-percent of all pregnancies can end in a natural miscarriage. Unfortunately, not all clinics are willing to perform the additional testing to confirm pregnancy viability and, therefore, need for abortion. This potentially subjects women to unnecessary financial cost, stress, and possible medical complications. Staff at Mya are committed to avoiding unwarranted procedures and to ensuring our patients receive the most accurate information about their situation and the options available to them.

All appointments at Mya begin with a clinical grade urine pregnancy test. This step identifies the presence of the hCG hormone in the urine. Some level of this hormone is present in the urine throughout the entire pregnancy. However, a urine test alone is not diagnostic of a viable pregnancy. HCG levels fluctuate naturally and in the instance of spontaneous miscarriage. A urine test simply tells us that the hormone is present, not whether the levels are trending up or down. For more detailed information, we need additional testing.

One of the diagnostic studies used to obtain information about a pregnancy is ultrasound. Ultrasound is the only way to confirm location and viability of pregnancy and can be performed starting at five weeks and one day from the last menstrual period. This study can determine if a urine test produced a false positive, and it will aid in identifying pregnancies that are not viable (pregnancies occurring outside of the uterus and those where no heartbeat can be detected). It is also instrumental in dating a pregnancy which enables the Patient Advocate at Mya to compile a tailored and detailed list of the options available to you. Ultrasound studies are offered free of charge to all patients seen at Mya with a positive urine pregnancy test.

At Mya Women’s Center, we follow a patient-centered approach. Our goal is to provide complete, confidential, and unbiased care to help you make a well-informed decision. We offer the most accurate diagnostic testing and referral to the areas best local resources to help in that decision-making process. Contact us today.