The Importance of Pre-Abortion Screenings

If you just found out you are unexpectedly pregnant, a lot of things will be going through your mind, right along with fear, panic and a feeling that nothing will be the same again. That is understandable and knowing you have some decisions to make may only add to the anxiety.

If you decided to get an abortion, or are thinking about it, you need to know about STI screenings and why they are important. Before you brush it off, thinking you can’t possibly have a sexually transmitted infection (STI), you should know that there are a lot of women out there who have said the same thing and still ended up with positive test results.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions, “Many STIs are ‘silent,’ or have no symptoms, so you may not know if you are infected.”

Consider the Statistics

According to USAFacts, millions of Americans are affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) each year, and rates continue to rise. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded more than 1.6 million cases of chlamydia, making it the most commonly reported STI in the United States. Cases of gonorrhea and syphilis have also steadily increased over the past decade.

Young adults experience the highest rates of infection. Nearly half of all new STI cases occur among people ages 15 to 24, highlighting the importance of regular testing and early treatment.

Anyone who is sexually active can contract an STI, but data shows clear patterns. Women between 15 and 34 are more likely to be diagnosed with chlamydia, while men have higher rates of gonorrhea and syphilis.

Although many STIs can be treated, untreated infections can lead to serious health problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and complications during pregnancy. Routine testing and early care are key to protecting your health and your future.

Pre-Abortion Screening

Women seeking abortions are not routinely tested for STIs. At Willow Womens Center, we offer this testing to help women avoid serious health problems in the future.

The process is simple and straightforward. Make an appointment to come in for testing. During your visit one of our licensed medical staff members will administer a no-cost pregnancy test. Some home tests are not reliable and this will confirm if you are pregnant.

If the test is positive, an ultrasound is done at no cost to you. This test uses sound waves to form an image and will tell you if the pregnancy is viable, if it’s ectopic, and will determine how far along your pregnancy is. This is an important step because 20 percent of pregnancies result in miscarriage and 80 percent of miscarriages happen in the first 13 weeks.

Once the ultrasound is completed, we will test for two STIs, chlamydia and gonorrhea, at no charge to you. If test results are positive, we do provide a prescription for the treatment of chlamydia and we give referrals for treatment of gonorrhea.

Get the Support You Need Before You Decide

Our patient care team consists of licensed medical professionals and advocates specializing in serving women who face unplanned pregnancies and understand the personal nature of pregnancy and abortion decisions. We will carefully listen to your needs and help you walk through all of your options, so you can be confident in your decision. Contact us today.