Why an Ultrasound Is Important Before Abortion
Before proceeding with an abortion, a pre-abortion ultrasound is highly recommended for confirming pregnancy viability, determining gestational age, and ruling out certain conditions. Ultrasound technology uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of your internal organs.
This imaging provides a clear and reliable foundation for safe, effective treatment decisions, whether you are eligible for a medical abortion or require a surgical option in Singapore. Our in-clinic ultrasound services are immediate, discreet, and conducted by experienced professionals, ensuring comfort for patients.
Who Should Get an Ultrasound?
While not legally mandated in Singaporean abortion policies, most abortion centres highly recommend getting an ultrasound. Many even offer this service for free to women considering abortion.
An ultrasound is particularly beneficial for those with irregular menstrual cycles, as it accurately determines gestational age. It is also crucial for women with a history of ectopic pregnancies, as it helps identify any risk of recurrence.
How Does an Ultrasound Help with Decision-Making?
A pre-abortion ultrasound provides a thorough assessment of the pregnancy. This is essential for determining the most appropriate and safest approach for your circumstances by confirming the viability of the pregnancy, accurately determining your gestational age, and ruling out complications, such as ectopic pregnancy.
Confirming the Viability of Pregnancy
Ultrasound examination clarifies the pregnancy stage and viability. A viable pregnancy indicates the presence of a heartbeat and the potential for a live birth. Without ultrasound confirmation, you might undergo unnecessary medical procedures for pregnancies that have already ended naturally.
Sometimes ultrasound reveals miscarriages or nonviable pregnancies that require different medical management than elective abortion. These discoveries, while potentially emotionally challenging, protect you from inappropriate treatments and guide you toward proper medical care.
Determining Your Gestational Age
The Singapore abortion law permits the termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks of gestation. Beyond this period, an abortion is only allowed if the mother's life is at risk or the foetus has a severe abnormality. An ultrasound can help confirm eligibility for this procedure.
Furthermore, by accurately dating your pregnancy, an ultrasound can help determine the most suitable abortion approach. In Singapore, medical abortion is generally limited to the first trimester (ideally up to 7 weeks), making an early ultrasound crucial to confirm eligibility. For pregnancies beyond the first trimester, surgical abortion is typically more suitable.
Ruling Out Ectopic Pregnancy
During a normal pregnancy, the embryo develops inside the uterus. However, in rare instances, it can grow inside the fallopian tubes, a condition known as an ectopic pregnancy. This can be fatal without timely medical intervention. An ectopic pregnancy rupture can lead to internal bleeding, infection, and, in severe cases, death.
Furthermore, taking the abortion pill without first ruling out an ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening. The medication used for terminating uterine pregnancies cannot resolve this dangerous condition.
What Happens After the Ultrasound?
The next steps depend entirely on the ultrasound findings. Normal intrauterine pregnancy within appropriate gestational limits opens standard abortion options, both medication and surgical procedures. However, an ectopic pregnancy requires immediate medical intervention, typically surgical. For non-viable pregnancies, miscarriage management may be necessary instead of an abortion procedure.
Our clinic provides on-site ultrasound assessments as a crucial part of safe, informed abortion care. This pre-abortion ultrasound offers clarity on gestational age, pregnancy viability, and potential complications, helping ensure your decision is medically appropriate.
If you are considering either medical or surgical abortion, schedule a consultation with our abortion surgeon for a trusted assessment.
