Ultrasound
Options Medical Center provides free ultrasounds to confirm pregnancy for clients that have received a positive pregnancy test and pre-ultrasound screening (which is conducted by our health professionals).
What Does An Ultrasound Do?
Ultrasound imaging is actually used for several medical purposes. For an athlete, ultrasound is used to detect and treat injuries. An ultrasound often helps a doctor locate a specific area for performing a biopsy. For a pregnant woman, an ultrasound examination answers many questions.
- Is the pregnancy viable? An ultrasound will confirm your pregnancy by locating a heartbeat. Some women experience a miscarriage for a variety of reasons. Even though you may have received a positive result on your pregnancy test, an ultrasound will verify if the fetus is growing.
- What is the gestational age? In other words, how far along you are in your pregnancy. By measuring the size of the fetus, the sonographer will be able to determine the date of conception, as well as an expected due date.
- Do I have an ectopic pregnancy? The ultrasound examination will show where the pregnancy is located within your body. If you have this type of pregnancy, the fetus has attached somewhere other than the uterus. An untreated ectopic pregnancy can be a severe medical emergency.
Why Do I Need An Ultrasound?
We perform an ultrasound to determine three major things about the pregnancy.
1. The ultrasound can provide an accurate estimation of how far along you are in your pregnancy.
2. We can see and document the fetal heart rate if you are further than six weeks along.
3. We also make sure the pregnancy is in the uterus. If it is not in the uterus, this is called an ectopic pregnancy which would need medical attention as soon as possible.
How Soon Should I Get An Ultrasound?
The time to get an ultrasound is shortly after receiving a positive pregnancy test at our Clinic. For any of the options you have available to you, you will need to know how far along your pregnancy is. If you are facing the uncertainty of an unplanned pregnancy, you do have options. If you are considering abortion, the trained medical staff and consultants at Options Medical Clinic are here to discuss your options and help you make an informed decision.