Ultrasounds

An ultrasound is a critical safety step for every woman during pregnancy. It verifies the health of your pregnancy and identifies the need for specific treatment. Keep reading to find out more about our ultrasound services.

How Does An Ultrasound Work?

An ultrasound works by using high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of the inside of the body. This technology revolutionized pregnancy imaging because it allowed medical professionals to identify complications before they ever cause symptoms or issues. Ultrasound scans have been in use for over sixty years. These scans do not use radiation, and there are no known risks from using sound waves.

Why Do I Need an Ultrasound?

You may wonder why you need an ultrasound if you already know you’re pregnant. It’s because it provides three key details you need to know.

1. How Far Along You Are (Pregnancy Gestation)

An ultrasound tells you how long you’ve been pregnant. This helps a medical professional reveal your pregnancy options and/or estimate your due date.

Some states have gestational limits on abortion, which means your pregnancy options change depending on the laws of your local area. Also, the abortion pill is only FDA-approved for the first ten weeks of pregnancy. After this window, another procedure could be recommended as a safer option for you. All this to say, timing matters in pregnancy.

2. The Pregnancy’s Location

While rare, an ectopic pregnancy occurs in about 1-2% of pregnancies. This type of pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg attaches somewhere outside the uterus, typically in a fallopian tube.

This can be life-threatening because only the uterus is designed to hold and support a growing pregnancy. As the embryo grows in another area of the body, it can cause damage or even rupture a fallopian tube, leading to internal bleeding. This pregnancy will be unable to develop normally and is considered a non-viable pregnancy.

An ultrasound scan can identify or rule out ectopic pregnancy.

3. If the Pregnancy is Viable

Viability refers to whether a pregnancy is progressing normally and hasn’t miscarried.

According to the Mayo Clinic, about 10-20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. This number could be higher, though, because women sometimes miscarry before ever knowing they were pregnant.

If an ultrasound identifies miscarriage, it will be important to follow up with a medical professional to ensure it resolves and there are no risks of infection.

Take Safety Precautions

An ultrasound can confirm your pregnancy details and protect your health. Schedule a no-cost pregnancy confirmation appointment at Evany Clinic for medical-grade pregnancy testing and an ultrasound.