Anti-abortion centers all across South Texas claim to provide much needed health care services such as free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and verification of pregnancy. They exploit the fact that people need access to free ultrasounds in order to lure people into their center or mobile unit. Once inside, people are subjected to religious propaganda, stigma, and false information in an effort to discourage them from seeking an abortion.
STRJ believes that EVERYONE deserves access to accurate and person-centered reproductive healthcare from professionals they can trust. Providing free ultrasounds read by a trusted, local radiologist is one of the key steps in ensuring people no longer have to subject themselves to disinformation, shame or stigma from anti-abortion centers. The Free Ultrasound Project aims to directly fill the gap in healthcare services that lead people to seek ultrasounds from anti-abortion centers.
Who qualifies?
- Any person who knows or suspects they are more than 6 weeks pregnant. How can I calculate how many weeks pregnant I am?
- Any person living in the following 32 counties in South Texas: Aransas, Atascosa, Bee, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Dimmit, Duval, Frio, Goliad, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria, Uvalde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, Zavala
What is covered?
- Urine Pregnancy Test
- A trans abdominal pelvic pregnancy confirmation ultrasound by a sonographer (2D B&W print can be provided to the patient, if requested)
- Reading of the ultrasound by a radiologist
How can I get an appointment?
A person who seeks to have an ultrasound can send an email directly to ultrasound@strj.org.
Any information shared via email is only viewed by the sonographer. STRJ volunteers do not have access to any messages sent to the ultrasound@strj.org email.
Considerations
Location of the ultrasound service is in McAllen, TX.
The location of the provider is within 100 miles of the United States(US)/Mexico border. For individuals who live over 100 miles north of the US/Mexico border, travel to McAllen, TX requires they cross a border patrol checkpoint. These checkpoints are a risk to undocumented people and individuals may be subject to searches.
strj.org 