Limited Ultrasounds
Confirm the viability of your pregnancy to help choose your next steps.
Ultrasounds provide the insight needed to make an informed pregnancy decision.
If you are considering an abortion, an ultrasound can help determine how far along you are which will impact abortion options.
A Limited Ultrasound Informs You
of 3 Things:
- How far along you are (gestational age)
- If the pregnancy is developing in your uterus
- If the pregnancy is viable
What is Gestational Age?
Gestational age is how far along you are in your pregnancy. An ultrasound helps give an accurate age to your pregnancy by measuring the embryo.
If you are pregnant in Florida, it is important to know the gestation age of your pregnancy, particularly if you are considering abortion. With the new law’s six-week limit, this will determine which options are available to you.
What is Pregnancy Viability?
A pregnancy is viable if it is expected to continue to develop normally and is indicated by the presence of a heartbeat (around 6 weeks). Over 26% of all pregnancies, even when the test is positive, do not develop into a viable fetus.
A nonviable pregnancy is a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (a life-threatening condition where the pregnancy develops in the fallopian tubes).
Do I Need an Ultrasound If I’m Considering Abortion?
Even if you are considering abortion, it is important that you first have an ultrasound. Over 26% of all pregnancies, even with a positive pregnancy test, end in miscarriage.
A limited ultrasound can also reveal if the pregnancy is likely ectopic. Ectopic pregnancies occur when a fertilized egg does not make it out of the fallopian tube. This can cause the tube to rupture as the embryo grows. This is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
With both of these nonviable pregnancies, an abortion is not necessary.
In Florida, an ultrasound before an abortion is required to determine how far along you are. If you are more than 6 weeks, abortion is no longer an option.
Questions About Ultrasounds
What is a pregnancy ultrasound?
A pregnancy ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of what’s inside the uterus.
Ultrasounds do several important things:
- Determine how far along you are
- Detect placement of the pregnancy
- Detect if fetal heartbeat is present
We offer limited ultrasounds at no cost, so you can be sure what the right next steps are for you.
How early will an ultrasound detect a pregnancy?
An ultrasound can detect a pregnancy between five and six weeks gestation (approximately 1- 2 weeks after a missed period). At six weeks you should be able to hear the heartbeat.