Agape offers limited obstetric ultrasounds performed by trained medical personnel to help you clarify your options. An ultrasound will confirm the viability of the pregnancy or let you know if you are at risk for a natural miscarriage. An ultrasound can:
- Confirm the location of your pregnancy (intrauterine vs. ectopic)
- Determine the number of fetuses
- Detect a fetal heartbeat
- Calculate gestational age (or how many weeks pregnant you are)
- Approximate a due date
- Advise further medical attention, if necessary
At Agape, our board certified medical director oversees all of our ultrasounds, ensuring our policies and procedures remain at the highest standards for our clients. Our ultrasound exams are provided free of charge and are 100% confidential. We do not provide abortion services or referrals.
Let us answer some questions you may have about ultrasounds:
I am considering an abortion. Why should I have an ultrasound?
A positive pregnancy test alone is not sufficient information for making an abortion decision. An ultrasound can rule out two possible pregnancy outcomes that will end your pregnancy without abortion. First, it is estimated that about 1 in 4 pregnancies naturally end in miscarriage. Second, an ectopic pregnancy may occur. This is a rare complication where a pregnancy forms outside of the uterus. This is a medical emergency and requires specific treatment. Either way, you could be wrestling with a choice you don’t even need to make.
An ultrasound will confirm that you have a viable intrauterine pregnancy with cardiac activity and determine gestational age. The types of abortions available to you as well as the cost for these options will depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy (the gestational age). Agape can offer you a free limited obstetric ultrasound that will provide this information at no cost to you. We want you to be fully informed before you make this important decision!
Click here to learn more about the different types of abortion.
What is an ultrasound?
An ultrasound, also known as a sonogram, uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within your body. Ultrasound scans are painless, safe, and considered standard procedure for those who are pregnant.
What is a limited obstetric ultrasound exam?
A limited obstetric ultrasound is an ultrasound conducted to answer specific questions about a pregnancy, like the age of the pregnancy and its viability. It also shows pictures of the mother’s ovaries and uterus, making it an excellent tool for monitoring the health of mother and pregnancy. Though our sonographers are overseen by a board certified OBGYN, our ultrasounds are seeking the most basic and necessary information for women early in their pregnancy, including:
- Is the fetus(es) located within the uterus or is there risk of an ectopic pregnancy?
- How far along is the pregnancy?
- Is there cardiac activity?
- What is the approximate date of conception?
How should I prepare for an ultrasound?
After you’ve received a positive pregnancy test, you may be offered a free limited obstetric ultrasound at Agape. If you think you are less than 10 weeks along, our sonographers might elect to conduct a transvaginal ultrasound to get a clearer scan. In transvaginal ultrasounds, a probe about the size of a tampon is inserted into the vagina and an empty bladder gives the clearest scans. If you’re further than 10 weeks, you will most likely receive an abdominal ultrasound, in which a full bladder is most helpful for seeing the pregnancy clearly.
Agape prioritizes providing an environment of privacy and respect. As always, your scan and appointment are completely confidential. If you want to, you are welcome to bring people from your support system with you for your ultrasound.
Why should I get a sonogram at Agape?
You may or may not have already taken a pregnancy test by the time you contacted Agape, but an ultrasound is the best way to confirm your pregnancy and the viability of it. An ultrasound can give you information about the development of your pregnancy and verify how far along you are. An ultrasound performed by a trained sonographer and overseen by a board certified doctor is beneficial to your health and the most helpful tool in determining your options and next steps.
Is this ultrasound actually free?
Yes! All of Agape’s services are 100% free and confidential. We won’t ask for your insurance and you will never receive a bill from our center – we don’t even have a billing department! We receive no financial gain from your decision.
We are able to provide free services to you because of generous support from local individuals, institutions, and businesses – from your community. Our partners support Agape because they believe you matter and they want to help.
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
While normally a baby grows inside the uterus or womb, an ectopic pregnancy can be in the fallopian tube (where the egg and sperm meet), ovary, cervix, or abdominal cavity. Ectopic pregnancies in the fallopian tubes are much more common than in other locations. In most cases, the cause of an ectopic pregnancy is not known and nothing could have been done to prevent it.
Ectopic pregnancies, specifically those occurring in the fallopian tubes, are considered medical emergencies and should be treated by an obstetrician-gynecologist. Agape does not provide care for ectopic pregnancies and in cases of emergency will refer clients to an emergency room.
