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Dating Ultrasounds

Pregnant? We offer dating ultrasounds to help you figure out how far along you are in your pregnancy.

Why would I need a dating ultrasound?

A dating ultrasound is performed to estimate how many weeks pregnant you are. The earlier the ultrasound is performed, the more accurate it will be at estimating the exact date. Dating ultrasounds can also help assess the presence of a heartbeat and the location of the pregnancy in the uterus to rule out an ectopic pregnancy.

If you’ve confirmed that you’re pregnant, we offer dating ultrasounds at our Prevention Park location in Houston.

Schedule an ultrasound appointment

Call 1-800-230-PLAN to schedule an ultrasound appointment at our Prevention Park location in Houston.

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Frequently Asked Questions

I’m pregnant, and I’m unsure about what I’m going to do. Should I get an ultrasound?

It’s up to you. If you’re unsure and need time to decide, you can contact us to schedule an appointment when you’re ready. During your visit, the provider can also discuss options with you.

Does Planned Parenthood provide prenatal care?

We can provide information about the importance of prenatal care and how to connect with a prenatal care provider. You can learn more during your visit.

What does a dating ultrasound not tell us?

A dating ultrasound does not tell us the following:

  • Whether or not the pregnancy is healthy or will continue
  • Sex
  • Genetic information
  • General health of your pelvic structures (uterus, ovaries, tubes, bladder)
What are the limitations of a dating ultrasound?
  • A dating ultrasound is not a comprehensive gynecological or obstetrical scan.
  • A dating ultrasound is not an initiation into prenatal or abortion care.
  • If you are continuing the pregnancy, it is important to have a more comprehensive ultrasound with your prenatal provider.
  • If you are planning to end the pregnancy, it’s important to follow up with an abortion provider. We can’t provide abortion in Texas, but we can connect you to out-of-state abortion providers and to resources for gas, flights, travel, meal, and childcare expenses. To learn more, visit ppgulfcoast.org/abortionhelp.
What if the ultrasound doesn't show a pregnancy?

Occasionally, a person has a positive pregnancy test but no pregnancy is seen on ultrasound.

This might happen when:

  • The pregnancy is in your uterus but it’s too early (too small) to be seen on ultrasound
  • The pregnancy is not in your uterus (ectopic pregnancy)
  • You have had a miscarriage but enough hormones are still present in your body to cause a positive pregnancy test

In these cases, the clinician will talk with you about next steps.