A positive pregnancy test indicates the strong possibility that you are pregnant, but that’s about where its helpfulness ends. Once those two red lines appear on the test, your next step will be to schedule an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy.
Why is this so important? Because no matter what pregnancy option you are considering, an ultrasound will provide necessary information that can protect your health. Here are a few pregnancy questions that an ultrasound can answer for you!
Am I Actually Pregnant?
At-home pregnancy tests are usually quite accurate and can be trusted for accurate results. But through user-error or some other malfunction, there are rare occurrences of inaccurate results showing up on your pregnancy test¹.
We recommend a confirmation ultrasound after you’ve tested positive for a pregnancy. This will alleviate any uncertainty so that you can confidently take your next steps.
How Far Along Am I?
While a pregnancy test can usually tell you if you’re pregnant, it gives absolutely no information about the gestational age of your pregnancy. You might be able to make an educated guess, based on the date of your LMP (last menstrual period), but the only way to be certain of this is through an ultrasound.
A confirmation ultrasound can let you know exactly how far along the pregnancy is, which is exceptionally helpful in determining your pregnancy options. If you are considering an abortion, knowing how far along you are will let you know what options are available. Some abortion methods are only applicable to pregnancies within a certain timeframe, such as the abortion pill, which is only effective up to 10 weeks. It is extremely dangerous to undergo any type of abortion procedure before knowing how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Is This Pregnancy Viable?
A viable pregnancy will be implanted in your uterus and developing normally. Unfortunately, a pregnancy test will not let you know if this is the case. Screening for an ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage are two very helpful functions of a confirmation ultrasound.
An ectopic pregnancy is yet another rare occurrence; however, it is important to rule out as it is an extremely dangerous condition for a woman. Ectopic pregnancies are non-viable, meaning they will not develop properly and will end in miscarriage. They occur when the fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus, such as the fallopian tube. This can cause dangerous health complications for a woman and must be treated as soon as possible². An ultrasound will be able to screen for this condition.
Early miscarriage is also detectable through a confirmation ultrasound. Miscarriage quite a common occurrence with varying causes. Most pregnancies that end in miscarriage end in the first trimester, meaning within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy³. After a positive pregnancy test, an ultrasound will be able to determine the health and progress of your pregnancy.
Protect your health and get your questions answered through a confirmation ultrasound.
Have a Positive Pregnancy Test?
If you have recently had a positive pregnancy test, your next step is a confirmation ultrasound. You can schedule one at no-cost at our community health clinic. LC Medical has been providing quality resources and services to women for over 38 years.
Contact us today for more information!
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