Do I Need an Ultrasound Before Taking the Abortion Pill?

The ultrasound is part of your visit because it gives the doctor key facts before prescribing the abortion pill.

First, it confirms your gestational age, which means how far along you are. The abortion pill is used for pregnancies up to 10 weeks. Knowing the exact age helps the doctor confirm the pill is an option for you and that it will work.

Second, it confirms the pregnancy is inside the uterus. In about 1 to 2% of pregnancies, the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. This is called an ectopic pregnancy, and it is a medical emergency that the abortion pill cannot treat. The ultrasound rules this out.

Third, it helps the doctor spot anything else that could affect your care plan, such as fibroids or an IUD in place.

The ultrasound at your visit is quick and simple, and it usually takes less than 5 minutes. Depending on how far along you are, the doctor may scan on your belly (a transabdominal ultrasound). Or they may use a small, slim wand placed in the vagina (a transvaginal ultrasound). The wand type is more common very early in pregnancy because it gives a clearer picture.

The ultrasound is not painful. The wand may cause mild pressure, similar to the feeling during a pelvic exam. The doctor will explain what they are doing and what they see, and you can ask questions at any point.

You do not have to look at the screen, and Illinois has no law that says you must. It is a medical tool, not a step meant to change your mind.

No, not all clinics include one. Some mail-order and telehealth services prescribe the abortion pill without an ultrasound. They go by your last period and your health history alone. That can work for patients who are sure about the date of their last period and have no risk factors for ectopic pregnancy.

The Center for Women includes an ultrasound at every visit, since the doctor sees you in person and can do this quick check on the spot. It removes guesswork about how far along you are and confirms the pregnancy is in the uterus.

Neither way is wrong, and both are accepted medical practice. The in-person ultrasound adds one more check.

An ectopic pregnancy is one where a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. This happens in about 1 to 2% of all pregnancies. These pregnancies cannot survive, because a pregnancy cannot grow normally outside the uterus.

Left untreated, an ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency. The growing tissue can burst the tube and cause life-threatening bleeding inside your body. The abortion pill does not treat it. Mifepristone and misoprostol work on the uterus and will not end a pregnancy growing anywhere else.

The ultrasound at your visit checks for this before the doctor prescribes the abortion pill. If it shows an ectopic pregnancy, the doctor will explain what that means and connect you with emergency care right away.

Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy to watch for: severe pain on one side of the lower belly, shoulder pain, dizziness, fainting, or unusual bleeding patterns. If you have any of these symptoms, go to your nearest emergency room right away instead of waiting to call the clinic. An ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening if it is not treated quickly.

The ultrasound measures the size of the gestational sac or the embryo to show how far along the pregnancy is. This is more exact than counting from the first day of your last period. That helps if your periods are irregular or you are unsure of the date.

An exact age matters because the abortion pill works best in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. It works about 98% of the time at 7 weeks or less, 95 to 97% at 7 to 9 weeks, and 93 to 95% at 9 to 10 weeks. Knowing where you fall in that range helps the doctor give you the best care.

If the ultrasound shows you are past 10 weeks, the doctor will talk through your options. The Center for Women only provides the abortion pill, but the staff can refer you to a facility that offers care later in pregnancy.

Yes. The ultrasound is included in the $380 cost of your visit at The Center for Women. That price covers your visit with the doctor, the ultrasound, both medicines (mifepristone and misoprostol), and your follow-up visit. There are no hidden fees or extra charges for the ultrasound.

At some other clinics or hospitals, an ultrasound can be an extra charge of $200 to $500 or more. Here it is simply part of your care.

Call The Center for Women at (708) 450-4545 to schedule your visit. Same-day, evening, and weekend appointments are available. Your visit will include the ultrasound, time with the doctor, your first pill, and instructions for taking the second pills at home.

The Center for Women is located at 10215 W. Roosevelt Rd. #101, Westchester, IL 60154. The total cost is $380 and covers the appointment, ultrasound, medicines, and follow-up visit.